Rule 26 · USCG Navigation Rules
Vessel fishing (other than trawling)
Red over white all-round lights; sidelights and sternlight only when making way — and never a masthead light.
Situation
Viewpoint
Display
Drag to orbit freely, scroll or pinch to zoom — or use the viewpoint buttons above (keyboard friendly).
From the port bow you see:
- All-round red (upper)
- All-round white (lower)
→ Vessel fishing (other than trawling) — Underway, not making way, seen from the port bow.
Memory aid
“Red over white — fishing tonight.”
What it means
Underway, not making way
Only the red-over-white pair shows. Rule 26 applies whether she is underway or at anchor — a fishing vessel at anchor shows fishing lights, not anchor lights.
Making way through the water
Adds sidelights and a sternlight — but unlike a trawler she NEVER shows a masthead light while engaged in fishing.
Day shapes
Two cones, points together
Two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line.
Light details
Underway, not making way
| Light | Colour | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-round red (upper) | red | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (top) |
| All-round white (lower) | white | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (2nd from top) |
Making way through the water
| Light | Colour | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-round red (upper) | red | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (top) |
| All-round white (lower) | white | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (2nd from top) |
| Port sidelight | red | 112.5° to port | Port side, deck level |
| Starboard sidelight | green | 112.5° to starboard | Starboard side, deck level |
| Sternlight | white | 135° aft | Stern |
2D profile
Labelled side view — works without WebGL and in print. Variant shown: Underway, not making way.
In fog, she sounds
Don’t confuse with…
Official source
Rule 26, reproduced from the public-domain COLREGs Rule 26(c) — USCG Navigation Rules. Diagrams and 3D scenes are original to boatrules.com.