COLREGS Rule 26 — Fishing Vessels

Rule Text

What it means on the water

• →Trawling: GREEN over WHITE all-around lights + sidelights/sternlight when making way.
• →Non-trawl fishing: RED over WHITE all-around lights + sidelights/sternlight when making way.
• →Non-trawl with outlying gear > 150m: all-around white light in the direction of the gear.
• →Sidelights and sternlight only shown when actually MAKING WAY (not when stopped).
• →A vessel trolling is NOT engaged in fishing under Rule 3 — it shows normal underway lights.

Common exam mistakes

• ✗Reversing trawling colors — trawling is GREEN over white, not red over white.
• ✗Showing sidelights when the fishing vessel is stationary but underway — sidelights only appear when making way.
• ✗Applying fishing vessel lights to a vessel that is trolling — trolling does not qualify as fishing under Rule 3.

USCG exam questions — Rule 26

These questions are drawn from the same pool used in real USCG licensing exams. Correct answers and explanations are shown.

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 lights does a trawling vessel show at night?

A trawling vessel shows two all-around lights in a vertical line — green over white — plus sidelights and a white sternlight when making way. When stopped but still underway (not making way), the sidelights and sternlight are not shown.

How do you tell the difference between a trawler and other fishing vessels by lights?

By the color of the top all-around light: trawlers show green over white; all other fishing vessels show red over white. Both configurations add sidelights and sternlight when making way. A memory aid: 'trawler' and 'green' both start with a consonant cluster — G for Green and trawler's trawl drags along the bottom.

All COLREGS rules