This time we are looking at MINE CLEARANCE with vessels less than 50 meters.

You most likely are not going to encounter this situation; however the US Coast Guard requires you to know the lights and dayshapes.

You will see three round GREEN lights where one is located near the FOREMAST HEAD and the other two each at the end of FOREYARD. Of course you still exhibit the sidelights, stern light and WHITE masthead light. During the day the vessel must exhibit the three BLACK balls shape.

If a vessel is NOT UNDER COMMAND, you don’t show MASTHEAD LIGHT though if UNDERWAY or MOVING the vessel does exhibit SIDELIGHTS and STERN LIGHT. Once it has stopped these lights must be extinguished!

Remember this if it is NIGHT TIME: “RED OVER RED, the captain is dead.” It does not mean he is actually dead but that the vessel is NOT UNDER COMMAND.

Hugh Simpson