Day shapes quiz: recognise vessel signals

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Not under command Two all-round red lights, or two black balls by day, identify a vessel not under command.

An exceptional circumstance prevents her from manoeuvring as the rules require. The displayed making-way profile also has sidelights and a sternlight; the day shapes do not establish whether she is making way.

• Two black balls
• Red over red
• Day shape · Not under command

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Engaged in fishing; fishing type and vessel length remain undetermined. Two cones with their points together are the fishing day shape. They do not distinguish trawling from other fishing or establish vessel length.

Green over white all-round lights indicate trawling. By day, two cones with their points together indicate fishing.

The making-way profile adds sidelights and a sternlight. The day shape covers fishing generally and does not distinguish trawling from other fishing.

• Lights on the port bow
• Green over white
• Day shape · Engaged in fishing

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Restricted in ability to manoeuvre Red, white, red all-round lights, or ball, diamond, ball by day, identify this status.

Her work restricts manoeuvring. This power-driven making-way profile adds masthead lights, sidelights and a sternlight. Some operations, including dredging, require additional signals.

• Lights across the working area
• Red, white, red
• Day shape · Restricted ability to manoeuvre

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Constrained by her draught Three red all-round lights, or a black cylinder by day, are optional signals for a vessel constrained by her draught.

International rules: this power-driven vessel is severely restricted in deviating from her course by her draught relative to the available depth and width. Her normal power-driven lights remain.

• Day shape · Constrained by draught

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

At anchor; vessel length remains undetermined. The single black ball is the anchor day shape. It does not distinguish a smaller vessel using one anchor light from a vessel using two anchor lights, or establish vessel length.

This authored anchor configuration has one all-round white light where it can best be seen; by day the anchor shape is one black ball.

Under 50 m a vessel may use this single light in place of the forward and after anchor lights. An isolated white point does not establish that it is an anchor light; sternlights and permitted small-vessel all-round white configurations may look the same. Small-vessel exemptions depend on location and size.

• Day shape · At anchor

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Aground Two all-round red lights accompany the anchor light configuration; the day signal is three black balls.

This authored profile is a vessel under 50 m showing one white anchor light plus the two reds. Vessels under 12 m are exempt from the additional aground lights and shapes.

• Day shape · Aground

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Sailing while using machinery A vessel proceeding under sail while also propelled by machinery displays a black cone with its point down where it can best be seen forward.

She is a power-driven vessel for the collision rules, even with sails set. At night she displays the appropriate power-driven lights; the cone is the daytime signal.

• Day shape · Sailing vessel using machinery

Which status is consistent with these day shapes?

Identify the status. These shapes alone do not establish whether the vessel is making way or distinguish every type of fishing.

Tow exceeding 200 m: day shape When the length of a tow exceeds 200 m, a black diamond is shown where it can best be seen.

Tow length is measured from the towing vessel’s stern to the after end of the tow. The towing vessel and tow show the relevant diamond signals. At night, three vertically stacked masthead lights identify this long-tow operation on the towing vessel.

• The gap between the lights
• Day shape · Tow exceeding 200 m