§2026. Fishing vessels (Rule 26)

(a) Exhibition of only prescribed lights and shapes

A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

(b) Vessels engaged in trawling

A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so; and

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(c) Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling

A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear; and

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(d) Vessels engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing

The additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.

(e) Vessels when not engaged in fishing

A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

( Pub. L. 96–591, §2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3427 ; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, §701(5), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3933 .)

References in Text

Annex II to these Rules, referred to in par. (d), is to be established by the Secretary under section 2071 of this title.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of section 2 of Pub. L. 96–591 which enacted the Inland Navigational Rules which comprise this subchapter.

Amendments

1996-Pars. (b)(i), (c)(i). Pub. L. 104–324, §701(5)(A), struck out "a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;" after "above the other;".

Par. (d). Pub. L. 104–324 amended par. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (d) read as follows: "A vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing may exhibit the additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 2020, 2031 of this title.