Today we look at LIGHTS as related to TOWING and PUSHING.

This particularly applies to POWER DRIVEN vessels.

In a TOWING situation when the measured length from the STERN of the TOWING vessel to the after end of the tow EXCEEDS 200 meters the following LIGHTS must be present on the TOWING vessel: SIDELIGHTS, STERN LIGHT, and a WHITE TOWING LIGHT in a VERTICAL line ABOVE the STERN LIGHT. In addition a DIAMOND SHAPED flag must be visible.

If it is composite tow with the PUSHING vessel being connected BEHIND to the TOWED vessel, then the TOWED vessel must exhibit a bow MASTLIGHT, SIDELIGHTS, a STERN LIGHT and a STERN MASTLIGHT with a WHITE TOWING LIGHT above the STERN LIGHT.

Complicated but important to learn as you might encounter these scenarios!

Hugh Simpson