COLREGS Rule 26 — Navigation Lights
Vessel Engaged in Fishing — Navigation Lights (COLREGS Rule 26)
A vessel engaged in fishing (gear that restricts maneuverability — not trolling) shows two all-around lights: red over white for all fishing except trawling, and green over white for trawlers. Sidelights and sternlight are added only when the vessel is making way. The biconical (apex-to-apex) dayshape applies to both.
Condition: Engaged in fishing at any time, whether underway or at anchor
Navigation lights required
| Light | Color | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-around light — top (non-trawl fishing) | Red | 360° | Upper of two vertical all-around lights |
| All-around light — bottom (non-trawl fishing) | White | 360° | Lower of two vertical all-around lights, at least 0.9 m below the top |
| All-around light — top (trawling) | Green | 360° | Upper of two vertical all-around lights |
| All-around light — bottom (trawling) | White | 360° | Lower of two vertical all-around lights |
| Port sidelight (when making way only) | Red | 112.5° | Port side |
| Starboard sidelight (when making way only) | Green | 112.5° | Starboard side |
| Sternlight (when making way only) | White | 135° | Stern |
| Outlying gear direction light (non-trawl only, gear > 150 m) | White | 360° | In the direction of the outlying gear |
All-around light — top (trawling): Trawlers show GREEN over white — not red over white. This is the key distinction.
Port sidelight (when making way only): Shown only when the vessel is making way through the water
Starboard sidelight (when making way only): Shown only when the vessel is making way through the water
Sternlight (when making way only): Shown only when the vessel is making way through the water
Outlying gear direction light (non-trawl only, gear > 150 m): Required only when outlying gear extends more than 150 m into the water
Dayshapes
| Shape | Position | When displayed |
|---|---|---|
| Two cones, apex to apex (biconical) | Where they can best be seen | When engaged in fishing (both trawling and non-trawl fishing) — whether underway or at anchor |
Exceptions and size rules
- →A vessel under 20 m engaged in fishing is not required to show sidelights and a sternlight when making way, but may do so.
- →A vessel trolling for fish is NOT a vessel engaged in fishing under Rule 3 (trolling lines do not restrict maneuverability) and shows normal underway lights.
Inland Rules differences
- !US Inland Rules are identical to COLREGS for fishing vessel lights — no practical difference.
Common exam mistakes
- ✗Reversing trawling colors — trawlers show GREEN over white, not red over white.
- ✗Showing sidelights and sternlight when the fishing vessel is stopped (underway but not making way) — these are only added when making way.
- ✗Applying fishing vessel lights to a trolling vessel — trolling does not qualify as fishing under Rule 3.
- ✗Forgetting the all-around white light in the direction of outlying gear when gear extends more than 150 meters.
USCG exam questions — Vessel Engaged in Fishing
These questions are drawn from the same pool used in real USCG licensing exams. Correct answers and explanations are shown.
1. A vessel engaged in trawling shall show which lights at night?
- A.An all-round red light over an all-round white light, plus sidelights and sternlight when making way
- B.An all-round white light over an all-round red light, plus sidelights when making way
- C.An all-round green light over an all-round white light, plus sidelights and sternlight when making way✓
- D.Two all-round white lights in a vertical line
Why: Rule 26(b)(i) requires a trawler to show two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper green and the lower white, and when making way, sidelights and a sternlight. The green-over-white combination is the unique trawling signature.
2. A vessel engaged in fishing (other than trawling) shows which all-round lights?
- A.Green over white
- B.White over red
- C.Red over white✓
- D.Two white lights
Why: Rule 26(c)(i) prescribes two all-round lights — the upper red and the lower white — for vessels fishing with nets, lines, or other gear that is NOT trawling. Remembering 'red over white = not a trawler' helps distinguish it from the trawler's green over white.
3. You observe a vessel at night showing an all-round red light above an all-round white light, sidelights, and a sternlight. What type of vessel is this?
- A.A vessel engaged in trawling, making way
- B.A vessel not under command
- C.A vessel restricted in ability to maneuver
- D.A vessel engaged in fishing (non-trawling), making way✓
Why: Red over white is the signature of a fishing vessel not engaged in trawling. The presence of sidelights and a sternlight confirms she is making way through the water. A NUC vessel would show red over red, not red over white.
4. A vessel engaged in fishing with outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally shall show, in addition to the prescribed fishing lights:
- A.A yellow all-round light in the direction of the gear
- B.An all-round white light in the direction of the gear✓
- C.A flashing yellow light
- D.An additional green all-round light in the direction of the gear
Why: Rule 26(c)(ii) requires a non-trawling fishing vessel with gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally to show an all-round white light in the direction of the gear. This warns other vessels of the obstacle extending from the vessel.
5. A fishing vessel less than 20 meters in length is not making way. Which lights is it NOT required to show?
- A.The all-round fishing lights (red over white or green over white)
- B.Sidelights
- C.A sternlight
- D.Both sidelights and sternlight✓
Why: Rules 26(b)(i) and 26(c)(i) both specify that sidelights and a sternlight are shown only 'when making way.' A fishing vessel not making way shows only the all-round fishing lights, not the sidelights and sternlight. This is a common exam trap.
6. A vessel engaged in trawling shall exhibit which lights when making way?
- A.Green over white all-round lights, sidelights, and a stern light✓
- B.Red over white all-round lights, sidelights, and a stern light
- C.Two green all-round lights in a vertical line and a stern light
- D.Green over white all-round lights and a masthead light forward
Why: Rule 26(b) requires a vessel engaged in trawling to show two all-round lights in a vertical line — green over white — and when making way, sidelights and a stern light. The green-over-white distinguishes trawlers from other fishing vessels.
7. A vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling shall exhibit which all-round lights?
- A.Red over white all-round lights✓
- B.Green over white all-round lights
- C.White over red all-round lights
- D.Two red all-round lights in a vertical line
Why: Under COLREGS Rule 26(c)(i), a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling (e.g., longlining, gillnetting, or other net fishing) exhibits two all-round lights in a vertical line, red over white. This distinguishes it from a vessel trawling, which shows green over white under Rule 26(b)(i).
8. A vessel engaged in fishing at anchor must display which lights?
- A.Fishing lights prescribed by Rule 26 but NOT the anchor lights of Rule 30✓
- B.Anchor lights prescribed by Rule 30 only
- C.Both fishing lights and anchor lights
- D.Only sidelights and a stern light
Why: Rule 26(a) states that a vessel engaged in fishing shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in Rule 26, whether underway or at anchor, so when fishing at anchor she shows fishing lights but is exempt from the anchor lights of Rule 30.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between trawling lights and other fishing vessel lights?
- A vessel trawling (dragging nets or apparatus through the water) shows green over white all-around lights. All other fishing vessels — those using nets, lines, or other gear that restricts maneuverability — show red over white. Both types add sidelights and a sternlight only when actually making way.
- Does a fishing vessel at anchor show its fishing lights?
- Yes. Rule 26 states that a vessel engaged in fishing — whether underway or at anchor — shall exhibit the fishing lights. The biconical dayshape also applies when at anchor while fishing. Note that sidelights and sternlight are not shown at anchor because the vessel is not making way.
- Does a vessel trolling show fishing vessel lights?
- No. Rule 3 defines a vessel engaged in fishing as one using gear that restricts maneuverability. Trolling lines do not restrict maneuverability, so a trolling vessel is not legally engaged in fishing and must show the appropriate normal underway lights for its type and size.
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