COLREGS Rule 29 — Pilot Vessels

Rule Text

What it means on the water

• →Pilot vessel on duty: white over red all-around lights at the masthead.
• →When underway: also shows sidelights and sternlight.
• →When at anchor: shows white over red + anchor lights (Rule 30).
• →Pilot vessel NOT on duty: shows normal underway lights for its size — no special pilot lights.
• →The white over red combination is unique to pilot vessels.

Common exam mistakes

• ✗Reversing the colors — it is WHITE over RED, not red over white.
• ✗Applying pilot vessel lights when the vessel is not engaged on pilotage duty.
• ✗Forgetting that an anchored pilot vessel still shows the white over red in addition to anchor lights.

USCG exam questions — Rule 29

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

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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?

A pilot vessel engaged on pilotage duty shows two all-around lights at the masthead — white over red. When underway, it also shows sidelights and a sternlight. When at anchor, it shows the white over red lights plus the anchor lights prescribed by Rule 30.

What lights does a pilot vessel show when it is not on pilotage duty?

When not engaged on pilotage duty, a pilot vessel shows the same lights as any other vessel of her length and type — no special pilot lights. The white over red combination is only for when the vessel is actively engaged on pilotage duty.

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