[MAT 21,120] Towing and pushing24 

24

(1) When towing, a power driven ship must exhibit—

• (a)instead of either of the masthead lights prescribed in regulation 23(1)(a) and 23(1)(b), 2 masthead lights in a vertical line, except where the length of tow exceeds 200 metres measured from the stern of the towing ship to the after end of the tow, which shall require 3 such lights in a vertical line to be carried;
• (b)sidelights;
• (c)a stern light;
• (d)a towing light in a vertical line above the stern light;
• (e)when the length of tow exceeds 200 metres, a black diamond shape where it can best be seen; and
• (f)if the towing operation is such that it severely restricts the towing ship and its tow in their ability to deviate from their course—
  • (i)3 all round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen, the highest and lowest being red and the middle one white; and
  • (ii)3 black shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen, the highest and lowest being balls and the middle one a diamond pursuant to regulation 27(2).

(2) When a pushing ship and a ship being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit, they shall be regarded as a power driven ship and must exhibit the appropriate lights prescribed in regulation 23.

(3) A power driven ship when pushing ahead or towing alongside, other than a composite unit must exhibit—

• (a)instead of either of the masthead lights prescribed in regulation 23(1)(a) and 23(1)(b), 2 masthead lights in a vertical line;
• (b)sidelights;
• (c)a stern light; and
• (d)if the towing operation is such that it severely restricts the towing ship and its tow in their ability to deviate from their course—
  • (i)3 all round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen, the highest and lowest being red and the middle one white; and
  • (ii)3 black shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest being balls and the middle one a diamond pursuant to regulation 27(2).

(4) A ship or object being towed, other than an inconspicuous, partly submerged ship or object or combination of such ships or objects, must exhibit—

• (a)sidelights;
• (b)a stern light; and
• (c)when the length of tow exceeds 200 metres, a black diamond shape where it can best be seen.

(5) Where from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a ship or object being towed to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed, all possible measures must be taken to light the tow or at least to indicate its presence.

(6) Any number of ships being towed alongside or pushed in a group must be lighted as one ship and—

• (a)a ship being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, must exhibit sidelights at the forward end; and
• (b)a ship being towed alongside must exhibit a stern light and, at the forward end, sidelights.

(7) An inconspicuous, partly submerged ship or object, or combination of such ships or objects being towed, must exhibit—

• (a)if it is less that 25 metres in breadth—
  • (i)one all round white light at or near the forward end except in the case of dracones, which need not exhibit a light at or near the forward end; and
  • (ii)one all round white light at or near the after end;
• (b)if it is 25 metres or more in breadth, 2 additional all round white lights at or near the extremities of its breadth;
• (c)if the length of towed object exceeds 100 metres, additional all round white lights so that the distance between lights does not exceed 100 metres;
• (d)a black diamond at or near the aftermost extremity of the last ship or object being towed, and if the length of tow exceeds 200 metres, an additional black diamond shape where it can best be seen, and located as far forward as practicable.

(8) If it is impracticable for a ship or object being towed to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed, all possible measures must be taken to light the tow or at least indicate its presence.

(9) Where from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a ship not normally engaged in towing operations to display the lights for a towing or pushing ahead or towing alongside a ship in subregulation (1) or (3), that ship shall not be required to exhibit those lights when engaged in towing another ship in distress or otherwise in need of assistance.

(10) All possible measures must be taken to indicate the relationship between the towing ship and the tow as outlined in regulation 36, in particular by illuminating the tow line.