Vessel Light sectors

22.5°

22.5°
 MINIMUM VISIBILITY OF LIGHTS

Length of vessel < 12m 12m - 20m 20m - 50m >50m

Masthead light 2 miles 3 miles 5 miles 6 miles

Sidelights 1 mile 2 miles 2 miles 3 miles

Sternlight 2 miles 2 miles 2 miles 3 miles

Towing light 2 miles 2 miles 2 miles 3 miles

All-round lights 2 miles 2 miles 2 miles 3 miles

Anomalies with Vessel lights -To be used in conjunction with other notes

PDV Towing carries all towing lights on 1 mast.

Only RAM if severely restricted in ability to deviate from course.
CBD lights for PDV + 3 reds

SV < 20m can’t show tricolour up mast if it has additional red over green

FV’sturn off side and stern lights when not making way
Trawler > 50m shows aft mast
Shows additional lights (hauling / shooting / fast) when close to others
Other than trawling cant tell length
Gear extending > 150m horizontally shows an extra all-round white

Shows fishing lights instead of anchor light/s if fishing at anchor

RAM lights for PDV + RAM

Side stern and masthead light/s off when not making way

NUC no mastlights
Side and stern off when not making way
Vessel under oars
SV < 7m
PDV < 7m < 7 kts
PDV< 12 m
Power Driven Vessel
< 50m
Power Driven Vessel
> 50m
Sailing Vessel
Any length
optional lights
 <20m

Tri-coloured Lantern
 Fishing Vessel
other than trawling – any length
Trawling <50m
Trawling >50m
 Additional signals for a trawler
• Shooting nets

• Hauling nets

• Net Fast upon an obstruction

• Pair Trawling
Purse seiner
Outlying gear> 150m
Constrained by Draft
(over 50m in this example)
Constrained by Draft
(over 50m in this example)
Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre
(over 50m in this example)
Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre
(over 50m in this example)
Not Under Command
Not Under Command
at anchor
< 50m
>50m
Aground
< 50m
Aground
< 50m
>50m
>50m
Minesweeper
Minesweeper
Towing – length of tow < 200m
Towing – length of tow > 200m
Towing v/l >50m – length of tow > 200m
 Inconspicuous partly submerged towed object
 
Light spacing’s not more than 100m lengthwise and 25m breadth
Pilot v/l <50m
Pilot v/l <50m
 High Speed Vessel >25kts within Harbour limits
or
Air Cushioned Vehicle operating in non-displacement Mode
Risk of collision
Risk of collision
Risk of collision
 stand on for all above
Pecking order

give way to all below

• Any Vessel OVERTAKING
• Power Driven Vessel
• Sailing Vessel.
• Fishing Vessel - Fishing or Trawling
• Vessel Constrained By Draught.
• Vessel Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre.
• Vessel Not Under Command
 2 PDV’s MEETING 
IN A CROSSING SITUATION
GIVE WAY TO -A VESSEL on your ST’BD side
STAND ON FOR A VESSEL on your PORT side 
 IN A HEAD ON SITUATION
BOTH VESSELS ALTER COURSE TO STARBOARD
TWO SAILING VESSELS MEETING 
WITH WIND ON THE SAME SIDE
VESSEL TO WINDWARD GIVES WAY
 WITH WIND ON OPPOSITE SIDE
VESSEL WITH WIND ON PORT SIDE GIVES WAY
 Precautions to take in poor visibility

• Wake the Master

• Proceed at a safe Speed

 Fog Signals
PDV MAKING WAY
PDV NOT MAKING WAY

SAILING VESSEL
FISHING VESSEL
CONSTRAINED BY DRAFT
RESRTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
NOT UNDER COMMAND
TOWING VESSEL
MINESWEEPER

AGROUND
AT ANCHOR >100m

PILOT
ADDITIONAL SIGNAL FOR A VESSEL AT ANCHOR
 Precautions to take in poor visibility
• Lookout

• Radar

• Navigational lights

• Echo Sounder

• Autopilot
Safe Speed Refer to International Collision Regulations (Maritime Rule 22.6) to complete the following

Every vessel must at all times…

(1)Take into account the following factors

•

•
(2) if you have RADAR
•

•
Excerpt from International Collision Regulations
22.6 Safe speed
Every vessel must at all times proceed at a safe speed so that proper and effective action
to avoid a collision can be taken and the vessel can be stopped within a distance
appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
In determining a safe speed, the following factors must be among those taken into
account -
(1) For all vessels -
(a) the state of visibility:
(b) the traffic density, including concentrations of fishing vessels or any
other vessels:
(c) the manoeuvrability of the vessel, with special reference to stopping
distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions:
(d) at night, the presence of background light such as from shore lights or
from the back scatter of the vessel’s own lights:
(e) the state of wind, sea, and current, and the proximity of navigational
hazards:
(f) the draught in relation to the available depth of water.

(2) Additionally, for vessels with operational radar -

(a) the characteristics, efficiency, and limitations of the radar equipment:
(b) any constraints imposed by the radar range scale in use:
(c) the effect on radar detection of the sea state, weather, and other sources
of interference:
(d) the possibility that small vessels, ice, and other floating objects may
not be detected by radar at an adequate range:
(e) the number, location, and movement of vessels detected by radar:
(f) the more exact assessment of the visibility that may be possible when
radar is used to determine the range of vessels or other objects in the
vicinity.
 IN RESTRICTED VISIBILITY

• All vessels give way.

• There are no stand on vessels.
 Restricted Vis
Radar Assessment