🔍 Key Concepts

• Rule 24 – Towing and Pushing in the Navigation Rules (lights for vessels towing and vessels being towed) • Difference between lights on the towing vessel vs. lights on the tow (barge) • What lights are required for a power‑driven vessel underway compared with a vessel being towed astern

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Does the barge being towed astern act like a normal power-driven vessel underway, or does it have a different lighting requirement? • Think about where the barge is located relative to the towing vessel and which lights are needed for other vessels to see and judge its length and direction at night. • Consider whether a barge being towed astern would ever show a masthead light or only lights visible from the beam and astern.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in Rule 24 which lights are specified for the vessel being towed (not the tug). • Check whether the rule mentions sidelights and/or a sternlight for the tow itself. • Confirm whether an all-round white light is associated with being at anchor or with a different special vessel, and whether that applies to a barge under tow.