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26

Fishing Vessels

Unscaled upper-light detail of a vessel engaged in trawling. A trawler making way shows green over white, sidelights and sternlight. Its masthead light is abaft and higher than the green; it is compulsory from 50 m and optional below.

Rule 26 applies to vessels engaged in fishing with gear restricting manoeuvrability, whether underway or at anchor; they show only the lights and shapes prescribed by this rule.

b
Trawling means dragging a dredge net or other fishing apparatus through the water. Show green over white all-round lights or two cones with apexes together. At 50 metres or more, also show a masthead light abaft and higher than the green light; smaller vessels may show it. When making way through the water, add sidelights and a sternlight.
c
Fishing other than trawling: show red over white all-round lights or two cones with apexes together. If outlying gear extends more than 150 metres horizontally, show an all-round white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear. When making way through the water, add sidelights and a sternlight.
d
Annex II provides additional signals for vessels fishing close together.
e
When not engaged in fishing, do not show the fishing signals: show the lights and shapes for a vessel of the applicable type and length.
Daytime non-trawling fishing example: gear extends 180 m, more than 150 m. In addition to the fishing cones, the vessel displays an apex-up cone toward the gear.
The fishing day shape is two cones with their apexes together for both vessel sizes shown. There is no basket alternative.

IMO COLREG 1972Official text

Full wording of the rule, reproduced from the official source below.

(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule. (b) 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; (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight. (c) 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 upwards in the direction of the gear; (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight. (d) 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) 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.
Source:

An interactive 3D illustration is shown here. The same content is described in the rule text and key takeaways below.

Recognition Sequence

Classify the vessel state first: underway, making way, stopped, at anchor, aground, towing, fishing, pilotage or special condition.

Read special lights vertically from top to bottom before using sidelights and sternlight to confirm aspect.

Use the complete display and any vessel length stated in the scenario.

Optional second masthead lights, two anchor lights or deck illumination do not by themselves prove a minimum vessel length.

Exam Focus

Avoid identifying a vessel from one colour alone.

Many mistakes come from spotting a red light and guessing before checking the full pattern.

If the question mentions 'making way', 'underway but stopped', 'at anchor' or 'aground', that wording usually determines which extra lights or shapes appear.

Key Takeaways

1

Trawling: green over white; other fishing: red over white

2

The fishing status signals apply while engaged in fishing underway or at anchor

3

Add sidelights and sternlight only when making way through the water

4

For fishing other than trawling, gear beyond 150 metres needs the extra white light or upward cone in its direction

5

Both fishing types normally show two cones with their apexes together by day

Common Mistakes

Mixing up trawling with other fishing

Forgetting that fishing gear can create a hazard offset from the vessel itself

Test Your Knowledge

Practise this topic and review the explanation for each answer.

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Frequently asked questions about COLREG Rule 26

What lights does a vessel engaged in trawling show?

Two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper green and the lower white (Rule 26(b)(i)). A vessel of 50 metres or more also exhibits a masthead light abaft of and higher than the green light, and when making way she adds sidelights and a sternlight.

What is the difference between trawling lights and other fishing lights?

Trawling is green over white; fishing other than trawling is red over white (Rule 26(b) and (c)). Both show sidelights and a sternlight only when making way, and by day the fishing shape is two cones point to point.

What signal marks fishing gear extending more than 150 metres from the vessel?

For fishing other than trawling, an all-round white light by night or a cone apex upward by day in the direction of outlying gear extending more than 150 metres horizontally (Rule 26(c)(ii)). This extra signal is not a general requirement for trawlers.