COLREGS Rule 29 — Navigation Lights
Pilot Vessel on Pilotage Duty — Navigation Lights (COLREGS Rule 29)
A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shows two all-around lights at or near the masthead — white over red. When underway it adds sidelights and a sternlight. When at anchor it shows the white-over-red plus the appropriate anchor lights under Rule 30. A pilot vessel not on duty shows the lights of an ordinary vessel of its size.
Condition: Vessel engaged on pilotage duty (at sea; underway or at anchor)
Navigation lights required
| Light | Color | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-around white light (top) | White | 360° | Upper of two vertical all-around lights, at or near the masthead |
| All-around red light (bottom) | Red | 360° | Lower of two vertical all-around lights, at or near the masthead |
| Port sidelight (underway) | Red | 112.5° | Port side |
| Starboard sidelight (underway) | Green | 112.5° | Starboard side |
| Sternlight (underway) | White | 135° | Stern |
| Anchor light(s) (at anchor) | White | 360° | Forward (< 50 m: one white; ≥ 50 m: also one aft at lower height) |
All-around red light (bottom): White over red is unique to pilot vessels on duty
Port sidelight (underway): Shown when underway — not when at anchor
Starboard sidelight (underway): Shown when underway — not when at anchor
Sternlight (underway): Shown when underway — not when at anchor
Anchor light(s) (at anchor): Shown in addition to the white-over-red when the pilot vessel is at anchor
Exceptions and size rules
- →A pilot vessel not engaged on pilotage duty shows only the lights of an ordinary vessel of her length and type — no special white-over-red signals.
- →A pilot vessel may additionally flash a series of short flashes as an identity signal to be recognized as a pilot vessel.
Inland Rules differences
- !US Inland Rules are identical to COLREGS for pilot vessel lights — no practical difference.
Common exam mistakes
- ✗Reversing the pilot vessel colors — the correct order is WHITE over RED, not red over white.
- ✗Thinking a pilot vessel shows masthead lights when underway — pilot vessels on duty show only the white-over-red, sidelights, and sternlight (no separate masthead light).
- ✗Forgetting that when a pilot vessel is at anchor it must show both the white-over-red AND anchor lights.
- ✗Applying pilot vessel lights when the vessel is not engaged on pilotage duty — off-duty pilot vessels show ordinary lights.
USCG exam questions — Pilot Vessel on Pilotage Duty
These questions are drawn from the same pool used in real USCG licensing exams. Correct answers and explanations are shown.
1. A pilot vessel on pilotage duty shall show:
- A.Two all-round lights: red over white in a vertical line
- B.An all-round white light over an all-round red light in a vertical line✓
- C.A white flashing light only
- D.Red, white, red all-round lights in a vertical line
Why: Rule 29(a)(i) requires a pilot vessel on duty to show two all-round lights in a vertical line at or near the masthead — white over red. Combined with sidelights and sternlight when underway, or an anchor light when anchored, this combination is unique to pilot vessels.
2. A pilot vessel on station but not at anchor shall show, in addition to the white-over-red lights:
- A.A flashing yellow light at intervals of not more than 4 seconds
- B.An anchor light only
- C.Sidelights and a sternlight✓
- D.A second masthead white light
Why: Rule 29(a)(ii) requires a pilot vessel underway (not at anchor) to show the white-over-red masthead lights plus sidelights and a sternlight. When at anchor, only the white-over-red lights and the anchor light (Rule 30) are shown.
3. By day, a pilot vessel on pilotage duty shall display:
- A.A flag 'H' (Hotel) of the International Code of Signals✓
- B.A black pilot flag at the masthead
- C.A white cone, apex downward
- D.A yellow flag
Why: A pilot vessel on pilotage duty customarily flies the International Code of Signals flag 'H' (Hotel) by day, which as a single-letter signal means 'I have a pilot on board.' Note that COLREGS Rule 29 itself prescribes no day shape or flag for a vessel engaged on pilotage duty — it requires only the all-round white-over-red masthead lights (plus sidelights/sternlight underway, or anchor lights/shape at anchor) — so flag 'H' is a conventional identifier rather than a Rule 29 requirement; the distractors are invalid (a yellow flag is the quarantine signal, flag Q).
4. Under the COLREGS and Inland Rules, a vessel engaged on pilotage duty is treated as which of the following for the purpose of lights and shapes?
- A.A vessel engaged on pilotage duty, with its own distinct lights specified in Rule 29✓
- B.A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
- C.A power-driven vessel underway with no special status
- D.A vessel not under command while a pilot is being embarked or disembarked
Why: Rule 29 establishes a specific category for vessels engaged on pilotage duty, requiring them to exhibit the pilot lights (white over red at the masthead) in addition to the lights prescribed for their size and type — they are not classified as NUC or RAM simply because a pilot is on board.
5. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit which identity lights?
- A.White over red all-round lights at or near the masthead✓
- B.Red over white all-round lights at or near the masthead
- C.Two white all-round lights in a vertical line
- D.A flashing yellow all-round light
Why: Rule 29(a) requires a pilot vessel on pilotage duty to exhibit two all-round lights at or near the masthead — white over red — making it easily identifiable day or night as a vessel performing the important function of providing pilots.
6. A pilot vessel not on pilotage duty shall exhibit which lights?
- A.Lights appropriate to her length and type of vessel✓
- B.White over red all-round lights regardless of duty status
- C.Only an all-round white light at the masthead
- D.Sidelights, stern light, and the pilot identity lights
Why: Rule 29(b) states that a pilot vessel not on pilotage duty shall exhibit lights and shapes appropriate for a vessel of her type and length — she shall not display the white-over-red pilot identity lights when not actively performing pilotage.
7. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty may sound which additional signal to identify herself?
- A.One prolonged followed by three short blasts
- B.Four short blasts✓
- C.One short blast repeated at one-minute intervals
- D.Three prolonged blasts
Why: Rule 35(i) permits a vessel engaged on pilotage duty to sound an identity signal of four short blasts, in addition to the prescribed fog signals for her type and situation.
Frequently asked questions
- What lights does a pilot vessel show when on duty and underway?
- A pilot vessel engaged on pilotage duty and underway shows two all-around lights in a vertical line at or near the masthead — white over red — plus port and starboard sidelights and a white sternlight. It does not show a separate masthead light.
- What lights does a pilot vessel show when at anchor?
- When at anchor, a pilot vessel on duty shows the white-over-red all-around lights (its pilot identity signal) plus the anchor lights appropriate for its length under Rule 30. A vessel under 50 meters shows one all-around white anchor light; a vessel 50 meters or more shows two.
- How do you recognize a pilot vessel at night?
- The distinctive white-over-red all-around combination at or near the masthead is unique to pilot vessels on duty. No other vessel category shows this particular combination. A memory aid: 'white hat, red collar' — the pilot wears a formal white hat and the vessel follows suit.
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