Red over red
Not under command. Developing level, about 2 min. COLREGs Rule 27(a).
The situation
Night. Almost dead ahead you see two red lights, one above the other, and lower down a red and a green light side by side. No white light is visible.
What does this vessel’s light configuration tell you?
- Not under command, making way, heading toward you: Two all-round reds plus both sidelights.
- A vessel aground: Two all-round reds.
- A pilot vessel on duty: Coloured lights in a vertical line.
Lookout: “Red over red, the captain is dead”: two all-round reds mean a vessel unable to keep out of the way. The sidelights tell you she is making way toward you.
The sound answer
Not under command, making way, heading toward you
Two all-round red lights in a vertical line mark a vessel not under command. When making way through the water she also shows sidelights and a sternlight, and no masthead light. Seeing both sidelights means she is heading toward you.
Why the other options fall short
A vessel aground
A vessel aground shows two all-round reds plus anchor lights, but no sidelights: she is not making way. The red and green sidelights here show a vessel moving through the water.
A pilot vessel on duty
A pilot vessel shows white over red, “white hat, red nose”. Here both stacked lights are red.
Rule 27(a) · Not under command
A vessel not under command shows two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen and, when making way through the water, sidelights and a sternlight as well.