A single vessel being towed alongside shall show which combination of lights?

A single vessel being towed alongside shall show which combination of lights?

• A. Two towing lights
• B. A special flashing light, sidelights, and a stern light
• C. Only a stern light
• D. A forward all-round white light

Answer: (B)

Being towed alongside changes how other vessels perceive you. The vessel being towed must display a special flashing light in addition to its normal navigation lights to signal that it is under tow and not maneuvering under its own power. In this scenario, that means the towed vessel shows the standard sidelights (red on the port side, green on the starboard side) and a stern light, plus a special flashing light to indicate towage. The flashing light helps other mariners judge the position and movement of the tow, reducing collision risk in all visibility conditions. The other options don’t communicate the tow status as clearly: the towing lights belong to the towing vessel, a stern light alone doesn’t indicate towage, and a forward all-round white light isn’t the correct signal for a vessel being towed alongside.

Being towed alongside changes how other vessels perceive you. The vessel being towed must display a special flashing light in addition to its normal navigation lights to signal that it is under tow and not maneuvering under its own power. In this scenario, that means the towed vessel shows the standard sidelights (red on the port side, green on the starboard side) and a stern light, plus a special flashing light to indicate towage. The flashing light helps other mariners judge the position and movement of the tow, reducing collision risk in all visibility conditions. The other options don’t communicate the tow status as clearly: the towing lights belong to the towing vessel, a stern light alone doesn’t indicate towage, and a forward all-round white light isn’t the correct signal for a vessel being towed alongside.