Rule 26 — Fishing Vessel Lights and Shapes
TL;DR — A vessel engaged in trawling shows green-over-white all-round lights; a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling shows red-over-white all-round lights. In both cases, sidelights and a sternlight are added only when the vessel is making way through the water. 33 CFR §83.26
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What the Rule Says
Scope and Exclusivity
A vessel engaged in fishing — whether underway or at anchor — shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in Rule 26. 33 CFR §83.26 Conversely, a vessel that is not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit those lights or shapes, but only those appropriate to her length. 33 CFR §83.26 This exclusivity cuts both ways and is a frequent exam target.
These lights must be exhibited in all weathers from sunset to sunrise. 33 CFR §83.20 If carried, they must also be shown from sunrise to sunset in restricted visibility, and may be shown at any other time when deemed necessary. 33 CFR §83.20
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Trawling Vessels — §83.26(b)
Trawling is defined as dragging through the water a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance. 33 CFR §83.26
A vessel engaged in trawling shall exhibit:
1. Two all-round lights in a vertical line, upper green and lower white — or, by day, a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other (the "hourglass" shape). 33 CFR §83.26 2. A masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light. A vessel of less than 50 meters in length is not obliged to exhibit this masthead light but may do so. 33 CFR §83.26 3. Sidelights and a sternlight — but only when making way through the water. 33 CFR §83.26
Memory hook: Green over White = Trawling — "Good Work Trawling."
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Fishing Other Than Trawling — §83.26(c)
This category covers vessels using gear such as longlines, pots, gill nets, and similar non-dragging methods.
A vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling shall exhibit:
1. Two all-round lights in a vertical line, upper red and lower white — or, by day, a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other. 33 CFR §83.26 2. When outlying gear extends more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear. 33 CFR §83.26 3. Sidelights and a sternlight — but only when making way through the water. 33 CFR §83.26
The gear-direction light must be placed at a horizontal distance of not less than 2 meters and not more than 6 meters from the two all-round red and white lights. It shall be placed no higher than the all-round white light and no lower than the sidelights. 33 CFR §84.04
Memory hook: Red over White = Fishing (not trawling) — "Red White Fishing."
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Vertical Spacing Requirements — Annex I
When two or three lights are carried in a vertical line, they shall be spaced not less than 1 meter apart. 33 CFR §84.02
On a vessel of 20 meters or more in length, the lowest of the vertical lights shall be placed at a height of not less than 4 meters above the hull. 33 CFR §84.02
On a vessel of less than 20 meters in length, the lowest of the vertical lights shall be placed at a height of not less than 2 meters above the gunwale. 33 CFR §84.02
The lower of the two all-round lights prescribed for a fishing vessel shall be at a height above the sidelights not less than twice the distance between the two vertical lights. 33 CFR §84.02
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Visibility Ranges
The all-round lights (red, white, or green) carried by a fishing vessel must be visible at the following minimum ranges:
- Vessel 50 meters or more in length: 3 miles. 33 CFR §83.22
- Vessel 12 meters or more but less than 50 meters: 2 miles. 33 CFR §83.22
- Vessel less than 12 meters: 2 miles. 33 CFR §83.22
The masthead light carried by a trawler of 50 meters or more must be visible at 6 miles; for a vessel 20 meters or more but less than 50 meters, 5 miles; for a vessel less than 20 meters, 3 miles. 33 CFR §83.22
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Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels in Close Proximity — §83.26(f)
These are optional supplementary signals used when fishing vessels are working near one another. They are placed where they can best be seen, at least 0.9 meters apart, and at a lower level than the required Rule 26 lights. They must be visible all-round at a distance of at least 1 mile, but at a lesser distance than the required Rule 26 lights. 33 CFR §83.26
Trawlers (demersal or pelagic gear) may exhibit:
| Operation | Signal | |---|---| | Shooting nets | Two white lights in a vertical line | | Hauling nets | One white light over one red light in a vertical line | | Net fast upon an obstruction | Two red lights in a vertical line |
Pair trawlers may additionally exhibit, by night, a searchlight directed forward and in the direction of the other vessel of the pair, and the shooting/hauling/fast signals above. 33 CFR §83.26
Purse seine vessels may exhibit two yellow lights in a vertical line, flashing alternately every second with equal light and occultation duration. These lights may be exhibited only when the vessel is hampered by its fishing gear. 33 CFR §83.26
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Why It Matters on the Exam
The OUPV and Master 100 GT written exams test Rule 26 heavily because fishing vessels are among the most commonly encountered restricted-in-ability-to-maneuver or constrained-by-draft vessels in coastal and offshore waters. Candidates must be able to:
1. Distinguish trawling from non-trawling light configurations instantly. The color sequence — green-over-white versus red-over-white — is the single most tested fact in this rule. 33 CFR §83.26
2. Know when sidelights and a sternlight are added. They are added only when the vessel is making way through the water. A fishing vessel at anchor or stopped in the water does not show sidelights or a sternlight — only the characteristic all-round pair. 33 CFR §83.26
3. Know the 150-meter gear threshold. The gear-direction light (all-round white) is required only when outlying gear extends more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel. 33 CFR §83.26
4. Know the 50-meter masthead light threshold for trawlers. A trawler of less than 50 meters is not obliged to carry the masthead light abaft the green all-round light, but may do so. 33 CFR §83.26
5. Know the daytime shapes. Both trawling and non-trawling fishing vessels use the same daytime shape: two cones apexes together (hourglass). The gear-direction indicator by day is a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear. 33 CFR §83.26 Shapes are required by day. 33 CFR §83.20
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Common Pitfalls
Pitfall 1 — Reversing the color sequence. Candidates frequently swap green-over-white and red-over-white. Trawling = green on top. Non-trawling fishing = red on top. 33 CFR §83.26 There is no version of Rule 26 where white is on top of the pair.
Pitfall 2 — Adding sidelights when not making way. A fishing vessel at anchor or drifting without making way through the water does not show sidelights or a sternlight. Only the characteristic all-round pair (and masthead light if applicable) is shown. 33 CFR §83.26
Pitfall 3 — Confusing the masthead light obligation. The masthead light carried by a trawler is placed abaft of and higher than the all-round green light. It is not the same as the forward masthead light of a power-driven vessel. A trawler under 50 meters may omit it entirely. 33 CFR §83.26
Pitfall 4 — Misidentifying the gear-direction light color. The gear-direction light for a non-trawling fishing vessel is all-round white, not yellow or red. 33 CFR §83.26 Its placement is 2 to 6 meters horizontally from the all-round pair, no higher than the white all-round light, and no lower than the sidelights. 33 CFR §84.04
Pitfall 5 — Applying fishing lights when not fishing. A vessel that is not engaged in fishing at the time shall not exhibit Rule 26 lights or shapes. It shows only the lights appropriate to its length and status. 33 CFR §83.26
Pitfall 6 — Confusing the close-proximity supplemental signals with the required lights. The shooting/hauling/fast signals and the purse seine alternating yellow lights are optional and supplemental. They are placed lower than the required Rule 26 lights and are visible at a lesser range. 33 CFR §83.26
Pitfall 7 — Forgetting the vertical spacing minimums. Regardless of vessel size, the two all-round lights in a vertical line must be spaced not less than 1 meter apart. 33 CFR §84.02 The lower light must be at least 4 meters above the hull on vessels 20 meters or more, and at least 2 meters above the gunwale on vessels less than 20 meters. 33 CFR §84.02
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Quick Check
Q1 — You observe a vessel at night showing two all-round lights in a vertical line, upper green and lower white, with sidelights and a sternlight visible. What is the vessel doing?
The vessel is engaged in trawling and is making way through the water. The green-over-white all-round pair is the required display for a trawling vessel; sidelights and a sternlight are added only when making way. 33 CFR §83.26
Q2 — A fishing vessel other than a trawler has outlying gear extending 200 meters horizontally from the vessel. What additional light must she show, and where is it placed?
She must show an all-round white light in the direction of the gear. It must be placed 2 to 6 meters horizontally from the two all-round red and white lights, no higher than the all-round white light of the pair, and no lower than the sidelights. 33 CFR §83.26 33 CFR §84.04
Q3 — A trawler of 35 meters is at anchor with her nets deployed. What lights is she required to show?
She is required to show two all-round lights in a vertical line, upper green and lower white. She is not required to show a masthead light (vessel under 50 meters), and she does not show sidelights or a sternlight because she is not making way through the water. 33 CFR §83.26
Q4 — What is the daytime shape for a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling, and what additional shape is shown when gear extends more than 150 meters from the vessel?
The required shape is two cones with apexes together in a vertical line (hourglass). When gear extends more than 150 meters horizontally, an additional cone apex upward is shown in the direction of the gear. 33 CFR §83.26
Q5 — A trawler is hauling her nets while fishing in close proximity to other trawlers. What optional supplemental lights may she exhibit to indicate this operation?
She may exhibit one white light over one red light in a vertical line. These lights are placed at least 0.9 meters apart, at a lower level than the required Rule 26 lights, and must be visible all-round at a distance of at least 1 mile. 33 CFR §83.26
Q6 — What is the minimum visibility range required for the all-round green light carried by a trawler that is 30 meters in length?
2 miles. A vessel of 12 meters or more but less than 50 meters in length must show a white, red, green, or yellow all-round light visible at a minimum of 2 miles. 33 CFR §83.22
Q7 — A vessel is transiting between fishing grounds with no gear deployed. May she exhibit her fishing lights?
No. A vessel not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 26, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length. 33 CFR §83.26