Coast Guard Exams

Question 30

ONC04

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see ONLY the light shown in illustration D080RR below. Which type of vessel are you observing?

Diagram for question 30
AI Explanation
The Correct Answer is C **Explanation for Option C (sailing vessel):** The illustration D080RR (which is based on standardized maritime rules illustrations) shows a vessel displaying **red over green** vertical lights. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Rule 25, a sailing vessel when underway shall exhibit sidelights (red port, green starboard) and a sternlight. Additionally, a sailing vessel may exhibit, at the masthead where they can best be seen, **two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower being green**. These lights indicate that the vessel is a sailing vessel. **Explanation of why other options are incorrect:** * **A) vessel on pilotage duty:** A vessel engaged in pilotage duty displays two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being **white** and the lower being **red** (White over Red, or "Pilot ahead"). This is distinct from the red over green shown. * **B) law enforcement vessel:** While law enforcement vessels often display specialized lights (like flashing blue lights), their primary identifying lights when underway would typically follow the rules for power-driven vessels. They do not use red over green as a standard identifying light sequence. * **D) vessel engaged in fishing:** A vessel engaged in fishing displays two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being **green** and the lower being **white** (Green over White, or "Trawling at night"). This is the inverse of the lights shown in the illustration (red over green).