Rule 29 · USCG Navigation Rules
Pilot vessel on duty
White over red all-round lights at the masthead; sidelights and sternlight when underway, anchor lights when at anchor.
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 white (upper)
- All-round red (lower)
- red — Port sidelight
→ Pilot vessel on duty — On duty, underway, seen from the port bow.
Memory aid
“White over red — pilot ahead.”
What it means
On duty, underway
The white-over-red pair replaces the masthead light — a pilot boat underway shows NO masthead light. Off duty she lights up like any vessel of her length.
On duty, at anchor
Keeps the white-over-red and adds the Rule 30 anchor light(s) and ball for her length.
Day shapes
On duty, at anchor
Anchor ball
One ball forward — the Rule 30 anchor shape.
Light details
On duty, underway
| Light | Colour | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-round white (upper) | white | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (top) |
| All-round red (lower) | red | 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 |
On duty, at anchor
| Light | Colour | Arc | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-round white (upper) | white | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (top) |
| All-round red (lower) | red | 360° all-round | Mast, vertical line (2nd from top) |
| Anchor light (forward) | white | 360° all-round | Forward, centreline |
2D profile
Labelled side view — works without WebGL and in print. Variant shown: On duty, underway.
In fog, she sounds
Don’t confuse with…
Official source
Rule 29, reproduced from the public-domain COLREGs Rule 29 — USCG Navigation Rules. Diagrams and 3D scenes are original to boatrules.com.