Navigation Lights for Fishing Vessels - Rule 26

Rule 26 -- Navigation Lights for Fishing Vessels

INTERNATIONAL

INLAND

(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

The rules for navigation lights on fishing vessels are relatively 
straightforward. There are no exceptions for particular geographic areas,
and the International and Inland versions are the same. The navigation
lights in this Rule are for those vessels "engaged in fishing" as defined
in Rule 3 whose maneuverability is restricted by their fishing apparatus.

INTERNATIONAL

INLAND

(b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear;

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so; and

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear; and

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

Rule 26 separates vessels engaged in fishing into two classes: vessels 
trawling, and all others. The basic lighting rules are the same for the two
classes except that trawlers use a green all-round light while others use a
red one.

The lighting requirements for vessels engaged in fishing distinguish 
between vessels making way through the water and those that are stopped,
that is, drifting or anchored. Also related to that is the provision that
anchored vessels engaged in fishing be lighted as would a drifting fishing
vessel. Hence, those anchored vessels should ignore the Rule 30 lighting
requirements. (See paragraph (a) of this Rule)

INTERNATIONAL

INLAND

(d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these regulations apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.

(d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.

Paragraph (d) refers the reader to the Annex II optional lights for vessels
fishing in a "fleet." These Annex II lights, which provide close-by fishing
vessels information, can only be displayed in the company of other vessels
engaged in fishing.
One of the Annex II displays, a white light over a red light for a trawler
hauling its nets, could be mistaken for the lights of a pilot vessel. While
Rule 29 requires a pilot vessel to display a white over a red light. with
either sidelights and sternlight if underway or anchor light if anchored,
Rule 26 requires a trawler to display green over white lights. Note that
the optional white-over-red Annex II lights will be displayed at a lower
level than the green-over-white and that they will not be as bright.

INTERNATIONAL

INLAND

(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

Fishing vessels not "engaged in fishing" must display the lights for an 
ordinary power-driven or sailing vessel, whichever is appropriate, in lieu
of Rule 26 lights.