NigeCh
New member
Here followeth the relevant chapter and verse. There is nothing in the following to indicate that two green lights in a horizontal line at deck level separated by about 20 feet mean the same as two greens in a vertical line. (I'll follow this up later with what the MCA had to say about it)
RULE 27
Vessels not under command or restricted in their ability to manoeuvre
a. A vessel not under command shall exhibit.
i. two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
ii. two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
iii. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.
b. A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, except a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations, shall exhibit:
i. three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white;
ii. three shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen The highest and lowest of these shapes shall be balls and the middle one a diamond:
iii. when making way through the water, a masthead light or lights, sidelights and a sternlight, in addition to the lights prescribed in sub-paragraph (i):
iv. when at anchor, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), the light lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.
c. A power-driven vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course shall, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 24 (a), exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (b) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.
d. A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, shall exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Rule and shall in addition, when an obstruction exists, exhibit:
i. two all-round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists.
ii. two all-round green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which another vessel may pass.
iii. when at anchor the lights or shape s prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.
e. Whenever the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shape s prescribed in paragraph (d) of this Rule, the following shall be exhibited:
i. three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white;
ii. a rigid replica of the International Code Flag "A" not less than 1 metre in height. Measures shall be taken to ensure its all-round visibility.
f. A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations shall in addition to the lights prescribed for a power-driven vessel in Rule 23 or to the lights or shape prescribed for a vessel at anchor in Rule 30 as appropriate, exhibit three all-round green lights or three balls. One of these lights or shapes shall be exhibited near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1000 metres of the mine clearance vessel.
g. Vessels of less than 12 metres in length, except those engaged in diving operations shall not be required to exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.
h. The signals prescribed in this Rule are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring assistance. Such signals are contained in Annex IV to these Regulations.
RULE 28
Vessels constrained by their draught
A vessel constrained by her draught may, in addition to the lights prescribed for power-driven vessels in Rule 23, exhibit where they can best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or a cylinder.
RULE 29
Pilot vessels
a. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
i. at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being white and the lower red;
ii. when underway, in addition, sidelights and a sternlight;
iii. when at anchor, in addition to the Lights prescribed in sub-paragraph (i), the light, lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30 for vessels at anchor.
b. A pilot vessel when not engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed for a similar vessel of her length.
RULE 30
Anchored vessels and vessels aground
a. A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:
i. in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
ii. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in sub- paragraph (i), an all-round white light.
b. A vessel of less than 50 metres in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
c. A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
d. A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:
i. two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
ii. three balls in a vertical line.
e. A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
f. A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (d) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.
RULE 27
Vessels not under command or restricted in their ability to manoeuvre
a. A vessel not under command shall exhibit.
i. two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
ii. two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
iii. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.
b. A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, except a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations, shall exhibit:
i. three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white;
ii. three shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen The highest and lowest of these shapes shall be balls and the middle one a diamond:
iii. when making way through the water, a masthead light or lights, sidelights and a sternlight, in addition to the lights prescribed in sub-paragraph (i):
iv. when at anchor, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), the light lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.
c. A power-driven vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course shall, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 24 (a), exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (b) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.
d. A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, shall exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Rule and shall in addition, when an obstruction exists, exhibit:
i. two all-round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists.
ii. two all-round green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which another vessel may pass.
iii. when at anchor the lights or shape s prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.
e. Whenever the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shape s prescribed in paragraph (d) of this Rule, the following shall be exhibited:
i. three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white;
ii. a rigid replica of the International Code Flag "A" not less than 1 metre in height. Measures shall be taken to ensure its all-round visibility.
f. A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations shall in addition to the lights prescribed for a power-driven vessel in Rule 23 or to the lights or shape prescribed for a vessel at anchor in Rule 30 as appropriate, exhibit three all-round green lights or three balls. One of these lights or shapes shall be exhibited near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1000 metres of the mine clearance vessel.
g. Vessels of less than 12 metres in length, except those engaged in diving operations shall not be required to exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.
h. The signals prescribed in this Rule are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring assistance. Such signals are contained in Annex IV to these Regulations.
RULE 28
Vessels constrained by their draught
A vessel constrained by her draught may, in addition to the lights prescribed for power-driven vessels in Rule 23, exhibit where they can best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or a cylinder.
RULE 29
Pilot vessels
a. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
i. at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being white and the lower red;
ii. when underway, in addition, sidelights and a sternlight;
iii. when at anchor, in addition to the Lights prescribed in sub-paragraph (i), the light, lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30 for vessels at anchor.
b. A pilot vessel when not engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed for a similar vessel of her length.
RULE 30
Anchored vessels and vessels aground
a. A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:
i. in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
ii. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in sub- paragraph (i), an all-round white light.
b. A vessel of less than 50 metres in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
c. A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
d. A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:
i. two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
ii. three balls in a vertical line.
e. A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
f. A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraph (d) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.
