Green over white
Fishing vessel. Developing level, about 2 min. COLREGs Rule 26.
The situation
Night. Slightly on your starboard bow you see a green light above a white one, both all-round, and below them a single red light.
What are you looking at?
- A vessel trawling, showing her port side: Green over white with a red sidelight.
- A vessel fishing with nets or lines, showing her port side: Coloured over white with a red sidelight.
- A vessel trawling, showing her starboard side: Green over white.
Lookout: “Green over white, trawling at night.” Compare it with red over white, which is fishing by other methods. The sidelight then gives you her aspect.
The sound answer
A vessel trawling, showing her port side
Green over white all-round lights mark a vessel engaged in trawling. Making way, she also shows sidelights and a sternlight; the red sidelight means you are looking at her port side.
Why the other options fall short
A vessel fishing with nets or lines, showing her port side
Fishing other than trawling shows red over white. The upper light here is green, which is reserved for trawling.
A vessel trawling, showing her starboard side
The trawling identification is right, but the sidelight you see is red. Red is the port sidelight, so she is showing you her port side.
Rule 26 · Fishing vessels
A vessel engaged in trawling shows green over white all-round lights; other fishing vessels show red over white. When making way through the water both also show sidelights and a sternlight.