Fishing Vessels

Rule text#

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

(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 upward 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.

(d)[Reserved]

(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.

(f)Additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity:

(i)The lights mentioned herein shall be placed where they can best be seen. They shall be at least 0.9 meters apart but at a lower level than lights prescribed in this Rule. The lights shall be visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least 1 mile but at a lesser distance from the lights prescribed by paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Rule for fishing vessels. (ii)

(1)Vessels when engaged in trawling, whether using demersal or pelagic gear, may exhibit:

(A)When shooting their nets: Two white lights in a vertical line;

(B)When hauling their nets: One white light over one red light in a vertical line;

(C)When a net has come fast upon an obstruction: Two red lights in a vertical line.

(2)Each vessel engaged in pair trawling may exhibit:

(A)By night, a searchlight directed forward and in the direction of the other vessel of the pair;

(B)When shooting or hauling their nets or when their nets have come fast upon an obstruction, the lights prescribed in paragraph (f)(ii)(1) of this Rule. (iii)

(1)Vessels engaged in fishing with purse seine gear may exhibit two yellow lights in a vertical line. These lights shall flash alternately every second and with equal light and occultation duration. These lights may be exhibited only when the vessel is hampered by its fishing gear.

(2)[Reserved] [USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, as amended by USCG-2018-0874, 84 FR 30878, June 28, 2019]

Why it shows up on the exam#

Green over white = trawling; red over white = every other kind of fishing. The 150-metre gear signal belongs to the non-trawling picture and points at the gear, which is the whole navigational point — it tells you which side not to pass. Note also that a fishing vessel is only “engaged in fishing” under Rule 3 when her gear restricts her manoeuvrability: trolling lines do not count.

Exam checkpoints#

1. 1.

   Trawling

   Green over white

   Two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper green and the lower white — plus a masthead light abaft of and higher than the green light (optional below 50 metres), and sidelights and a sternlight when making way through the water.

2. 2.

   Other fishing

   Red over white

   Any vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling shows two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper red and the lower white, plus sidelights and a sternlight when making way.

3. 3.

   Gear over 150 metres

   White light toward the gear

   When outlying gear extends more than 150 metres horizontally from the vessel, she shows an all-round white light — or by day a cone apex upwards — in the direction of the gear. That light marks the water to keep clear of.

4. 4.

   Not fishing

   Ordinary lights only

   A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes of this Rule, only those prescribed for a vessel of her length. The fishing signal is a claim about restricted manoeuvrability, not a description of the boat.

Where Inland differs#

Inland Rule 26 (33 CFR §83.26) carries the same light and shape combinations as COLREGs Rule 26. Both rulebooks also carry additional signals for vessels fishing in close proximity — trawler net-status lights and the purse-seiner's two yellow lights flashing alternately every second when hampered by her gear.

Rule 26 — common exam questions#

What is the difference between trawling and other fishing lights?

Colour order. Trawling — dragging a dredge or other apparatus through the water — is green over white. Every other kind of fishing, with nets, lines or trawls that are not dragged, is red over white. Both add sidelights and a sternlight when making way.

What does green over white mean?

A vessel engaged in trawling, under Rule 26. If you also see a masthead light abaft of and higher than the green, that is the same vessel — the masthead light is required at 50 metres and over and optional below it.

What does the extra white light on a fishing vessel mean?

That her outlying gear extends more than 150 metres horizontally, and the light points in the direction of the gear. Treat it as a warning about the water on that side, not as a second vessel. By day the same information is given by a cone with its apex upwards.

Is a boat trolling lines a fishing vessel under the Rules?

No. Rule 3 defines a vessel engaged in fishing as one fishing with nets, lines, trawls or other apparatus which restricts manoeuvrability, and it expressly excludes a vessel fishing with trolling lines. A boat trolling shows the ordinary lights for her length and gets no special privileges.

Authoritative source#

Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-07-26.

• 33 CFR §83.26 — the section this text comes from, with its neighbours.
• International COLREGs Rule 26 verbatim text is published by the IMO and is authoritative for international waters.

Practice this rule#

One real exam question on this rule, cited to source. No sign-up.