We continue to look at different vessels and the LIGHTS they exhibit.

Today we look at PILOT vessels as below.

As you can see this vessel exhibits vertical WHITE OVER RED ROUND lights in addition to the SIDELIGHTS and STERN LIGHT. The vertical masthead lights are extinguished when the vessel is NOT on duty and only exhibits the lights and dayshapes of similar length power driven vessel.

The phrase to remember is: “WHITE OVER RED PILOT AHEAD.”

By the way these lights are exactly the same in INLAND waters.

Hugh Simpson