80 Chapter Two
• A vessel engaged in fishing can be fishing
or trawling.
• Fishing is using lines or nets (but not
trolling).
• Fishing vessels display a red all-round
light over a white all-round light, in addition
to standard sidelights and stern light
• Trawling is dragging a net or scoop along
the bottom. Trawlers display a green light
over white.
• If a vessel engaged in fishing or trawling
is not underway, it does not exhibit sidelights
and stern light.
Vessels dredging or diving must display:
• Three all-round lights, red over white,
over red (ball over diamond, over ball
day shapes in daylight)
• Two vertical all-round red lights (or
two day-shape balls) to show the side on
which an obstruction exists.
• Two vertical all-round green lights (or
two day-shape diamonds) to indicate the
side where another vessel may pass.
Vessels engaged in underwater operations
that restrict maneuvering in accordance
with the Rules, including underwater
sport diving activity must:
• Display a rigid one-meter square blue
and white international code “A” flag
(figure 6-11).
• In addition, they must exhibit the red and
green lights required of vessels engaged
in dredging and diving (Figure 6-12).
• If divers are free-swimming, the vessel is
not restricted in its ability to maneuver.
The well-known, “diver-below” flag (a
red square with white diagonal stripe) is
distinctive from the International Code
“A” flag described above.
• The diver-below flag, also shown in Figure
6-11, is usually flown from a boat,
raft, float, or buoy to indicate the location
of free-swimming divers.
• Neither diver’s flag is exhibited when
underway or when divers are not in the
water.
• Boaters should stay well clear of these
activities, for divers often stray from the
diving vessel.
• Many states have local regulations governing
diving and underwater operations.
The typical rule is divers stay within 100
feet of the diver below flag and boaters
remain at least 100 feet away.
Boats at Anchor
Boats at anchor exhibit:
• An all-round white light from sunset to
sunrise where it can best be seen.
• Two white anchor lights if vessel is over
164 feet in length.
• No anchor light is required in specially
designated anchorage areas for boats less
than 65.6 ft.
Figure 6-9.
Vessel engaged
in fishing.
Figure 6-10.
Vessel engaged
in trawling.
Figure 6-11. Red and white
diver-below flag; blue and
white international code
“A” flag.
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