You are approaching another vessel at night. You can see both red and green sidelights and, above the level of the sidelights, three white lights in a vertical line. The vessel may be towing a tow more than 200 meters astern.

You are approaching another vessel at night. You can see both red and green sidelights and, above the level of the sidelights, three white lights in a vertical line. The vessel may be towing a tow more than 200 meters astern.

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. It is anchored
• D. It is a sailing vessel

Answer: (A)

Three white lights in a vertical line above the sidelights signal a towing situation. When a vessel is towing another vessel and the tow is more than 200 meters long, additional white lights are displayed in a vertical stack above the regular lights. Seeing red and green sidelights confirms the vessel is underway, not anchored, and the three white lights indicate a long tow behind. So you’re indeed encountering a vessel that may be towing a tow more than 200 meters astern. The other options don’t fit this light pattern: anchoring would not show this vertical stack of white lights, and a sailing vessel isn’t defined by three white lights in a column.

Three white lights in a vertical line above the sidelights signal a towing situation. When a vessel is towing another vessel and the tow is more than 200 meters long, additional white lights are displayed in a vertical stack above the regular lights. Seeing red and green sidelights confirms the vessel is underway, not anchored, and the three white lights indicate a long tow behind. So you’re indeed encountering a vessel that may be towing a tow more than 200 meters astern.

The other options don’t fit this light pattern: anchoring would not show this vertical stack of white lights, and a sailing vessel isn’t defined by three white lights in a column.