COLREGs · Rule 28
Vessels Constrained by Their Draft
Last verified: 2026-05-16
TL;DR
A power-driven vessel constrained by her draft may exhibit three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or by day a cylinder.
Inland equivalent
There is no Inland Rule 28 — 'Constrained by Draft' is COLREGs-only. Inland numbering jumps from 27 to 29.
Authoritative source
Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-05-16.
- International COLREGs Rule 28 verbatim text is published by the IMO. The 33 CFR §83 chunk above mirrors the international wording almost verbatim.
More from Part C — Lights and Shapes
Related drills
- Rule 20 — Application (Lights and Shapes)
- Rule 21 — Definitions (Lights)
- Rule 22 — Visibility of Lights
- Practise Rule 23 — Power-driven Vessel Underway
Drill COLREGs Rule 28
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