COLREG 1972 · rule 26 of 38
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Rule 26. Fishing vessels

A vessel engaged in fishing shows only the lights and shapes of this rule, whether underway or at anchor.

Part of the convention Lights and shapes

A vessel engaged in fishing shows only the lights and shapes of this rule, whether underway or at anchor.

  • Trawling (dragging a dredge or other apparatus through the water): green over white all-round, by day two cones apexes together. Making way through the water: plus sidelights and a sternlight. From 50 m: plus a masthead light abaft and higher than the green.
  • Fishing other than trawling (nets, lines): red over white all-round, with the same two-cone shape. Making way: plus sidelights and a sternlight.
  • Gear extending more than 150 m horizontally: an all-round white or a cone point up in the direction of the gear.
  • A vessel not engaged in fishing must not show these lights.
At sea it looks like this

Mnemonic: green means she is going (trawling), red means she is sitting with static gear. A white light offset from a fishing vessel means the gear is over there, so pass the other side.

The rule says«A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule».

Lights and shapes for this rule

Rule 26 (b)

Engaged in trawling, making way

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

An all-round green over an all-round white. Making way through the water she adds sidelights and a sternlight. From 50 m she adds a masthead light abaft and higher than the green.

Set
Green over white all-round, masthead light (from 50 m), sidelights, sternlight.
Tell
Green over white: she is dragging a trawl or dredge. Mnemonic: green means she is going.
In fog
One prolonged and two short blasts.
Priority
She gives way to vessels not under command and restricted in ability to manoeuvre. Power-driven and sailing vessels give way to her.
By day: two cones, apexes together
Rule 26 (b)

Trawling, not making way through the water

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

Only the all-round green over white: no sidelights and no sternlight, because she has no way on.

Set
Green over white all-round.
Tell
Green over white with no sidelights: gear is in the water and she is not making way.
By day
Two cones with their apexes together.
By day: two cones, apexes together
Rule 26 (c)

Fishing other than trawling

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

An all-round red over an all-round white: nets, lines, long-lines. Making way she adds sidelights and a sternlight.

Set
Red over white all-round, plus sidelights and sternlight when making way.
Tell
Red over white: she is fishing with static gear. Do not confuse with white over red (pilot).
In fog
One prolonged and two short blasts, at anchor as well.
By day: two cones, apexes together
Rule 26 (c) (ii)

Fishing with gear extending more than 150 m

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

An extra all-round white light, or a cone point up by day, in the direction of the outlying gear.

Set
Red over white, plus an all-round white towards the gear.
Tell
A white light offset from the fishing vessel: the gear is there, pass on the other side.
Distance
The rule applies once the gear extends more than 150 m horizontally.
By day: two cones, apexes together, cone, point up

Check yourself

Who is this?

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

A vessel engaged in trawling: all-round green over white. She is making way, hence the sidelights and sternlight.

Rule 26 (b).

Who is this?

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

A vessel fishing other than trawling: all-round red over white, nets or lines.

Rule 26 (c).

Who is this and which side do you pass?

seen from ahead (her starboard side on your left)
seen from her starboard beam
seen from astern

A fishing vessel with gear extending more than 150 m: red over white plus an all-round white towards the gear. Pass on the opposite side.

Rule 26 (c) (ii).

May a fishing vessel show any lights other than those of rule 26?

No. A vessel engaged in fishing shows only the rule 26 lights, underway or at anchor. A vessel not fishing must not show them at all.

Rule 26 (a), (e).

How do you tell green-over-white from red-over-white?

Green over white: trawling, she is dragging gear. Red over white: any other kind of fishing.

Rule 26 (b), (c).

What do two cones with their apexes together mean?

By day

A vessel engaged in fishing: trawling or any other fishing.

Rule 26 (b) (i), (c) (i).

What does a cone point up on a fishing vessel mean?

By day

Her gear extends more than 150 metres in that direction.

Rule 26 (c) (ii).

From what length of gear does a fishing vessel need an extra light?

When the gear extends more than 150 metres horizontally: an all-round white or a cone point up towards it.

Rule 26 (c) (ii).

Part of the convention: Lights and shapes