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24

Towing and Pushing

Vessels towing or pushing display additional masthead lights and a yellow towing light. Three masthead lights if tow exceeds 200m.

Rule 24 prescribes lights for towing and pushing operations.

a
A power-driven vessel when towing shall exhibit:
  • 1Two masthead lights in a vertical line instead of the single forward masthead light. When the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, three such lights in a vertical line
  • 2Sidelights and sternlight
  • 3A towing light (yellow) in a vertical line above the sternlight
  • 4When the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape where it can best be seen
b
When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and exhibit the lights prescribed in Rule 23.

Recognition Sequence

1

Classify the vessel state first: underway, making way, stopped, at anchor, aground, towing, fishing, pilotage or special condition.

2

Read special lights vertically from top to bottom before using sidelights and sternlight to confirm aspect.

3

Then confirm the answer with the day shape, vessel length and any extra signal such as towing lights, deck illumination or a cylinder.

Exam Focus

1

Avoid identifying a vessel from one colour alone. Many mistakes come from spotting a red light and guessing before checking the full pattern.

2

If the question mentions 'making way', 'underway but stopped', 'at anchor' or 'aground', that wording usually determines which extra lights or shapes appear.

Key Takeaways

1

Two masthead lights for normal tow, three if tow exceeds 200m

2

Yellow towing light shown above the sternlight

3

Diamond day shape if tow exceeds 200m

4

Composite units (rigidly connected) treated as one power-driven vessel

Common Mistakes

Not showing three masthead lights when tow exceeds 200m

Forgetting the diamond day shape for long tows

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