🔍 Key Concepts

• Rule 24 – Towing and Pushing light configurations • Number and color of masthead lights for long tows (over 200 meters) • Special light patterns and colors for dredges and pipelines (red/green/yellow)

💭 Think About

• Count how many white masthead lights are shown in a vertical line and compare that pattern with a normal power-driven vessel versus a vessel engaged in towing. • Ask yourself: would a stationary dredge or pipeline be shown with only white and green lights, or do those have distinctive red/green or yellow arrangements? • Think about what the single green light represents in this view and from which side of the vessel you are likely observing these lights.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in Rule 24 which operation uses three white masthead lights in a vertical line plus sidelights. • Check whether dredges and pipelines are required to show red, green, and/or yellow lights instead of just white and green in this type of pattern. • Confirm whether a vessel pushing ahead vs towing astern would look different to you at night based only on the towing vessel’s masthead and sidelight pattern.