1625-0019 Stat/authority

SUBCHAPTER E—INLAND NAVIGATION RULES
PART 84—ANNEX I: POSITIONING
AND TECHNICAL DETAILS OF
LIGHTS AND SHAPES
Sec.
84.01 Definitions.
84.03 Vertical positioning and spacing of
lights.
84.05 Horizontal positioning and spacing of
lights.
84.07 Details of location of direction-indicating lights for fishing vessels, dredgers
and vessels engaged in underwater operations.
84.09 Screens.
84.11 Shapes.
84.13 Color specification of lights.
84.15 Intensity of lights.
84.17 Horizontal sectors.
84.19 Vertical sectors.
84.21 Intensity of non-electric lights.
84.23 Maneuvering light.
84.24 High-speed craft.
84.25 Approval. [Reserved]
AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 2071; 49 CFR 1.46.
SOURCE: CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24,
1981, unless otherwise noted.

§ 84.01

Definitions.

(a) The term height above the hull
means height above the uppermost continuous deck. This height shall be
measured from the position vertically
beneath the location of the light.
(b) High-speed craft means a craft capable of maximum speed in meters per
second (m/s) equal to or exceeding: 3.7S
0.1667; where S = displacement corresponding to the design waterline (meters 3).
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (B): The same formula
expressed in pounds and knots is maximum
speed in knots (kts) equal to exceeding 1.98
(lbs) S 0.1667; where S = displacement corresponding to design waterline in pounds.

(c) The term practical cut-off means,
for vessels 20 meters or more in length,
12.5 percent of the minimum luminous
intensity (Table 84.15(b)) corresponding
to the greatest range of visibility for
which the requirements of Annex I are
met.
(d) The term Rule or Rules means the
Inland Navigation Rules contained in
sec. 2 of the Inland Navigational Rules
Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96–591, 94 Stat. 3415,

33 U.S.C. 2001, December 24, 1980) as
amended.
[CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as
amended by CGD 94–011, 63 FR 5731, Feb. 4,
1998]

§ 84.03 Vertical positioning and spacing of lights.
(a) On a power-driven vessel of 20 meters or more in length the masthead
lights shall be placed as follows:
(1) The forward masthead light, or if
only one masthead light is carried,
then that light, at a height above the
hull of not less than 5 meters, and, if
the breadth of the vessel exceeds 5 meters, then at a height above the hull
not less than such breadth, so however
that the light need not be placed at a
greater height above the hull than 8
meters;
(2) When two masthead lights are
carried the after one shall be at least 2
meters vertically higher than the forward one.
(b) The vertical separation of the
masthead lights of power-driven vessels
shall be such that in all normal conditions of trim the after light will be
seen over and separate from the forward light at a distance of 1000 meters
from the stem when viewed from water
level.
(c) The masthead light of a powerdriven vessel of 12 meters but less than
20 meters in length shall be placed at a
height above the gunwale of not less
than 2.5 meters.
(d) The masthead light, or the allround light described in Rule 23(c), of a
power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length shall be carried at least
one meter higher than the sidelights.
(e) One of the two or three masthead
lights prescribed for a power-driven
vessel when engaged in towing or pushing another vessel shall be placed in
the same position as either the forward
masthead light or the after masthead
light, provided that the lowest after
masthead light shall be at least 2 meters vertically higher than the highest
forward masthead light.
(f)(1) The masthead light or lights
prescribed in Rule 23(a) shall be so
placed as to be above and clear of all

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§ 84.05

33 CFR Ch. I (7–1–01 Edition)

other lights and obstructions except as
described in paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
(2) When it is impracticable to carry
the all-round lights prescribed in Rule
27(b)(i) below the masthead lights, they
may be carried above the after masthead light(s) or vertically in between
the forward masthead light(s) and after
masthead light(s), provided that in the
latter case the requirement of § 84.05(d)
shall be complied with.
(g) The sidelights of a power-driven
vessel shall be placed at least one
meter lower than the forward masthead light. They shall not be so low as
to be interfered with by deck lights.
(h) [Reserved]
(i) When the Rules prescribe two or
three lights to be carried in a vertical
line, they shall be spaced as follows:
(1) On a vessel of 20 meters in length
or more such lights shall be spaced not
less than 1 meter apart, and the lowest
of these lights shall, except where a
towing light is required, be placed at a
height of not less than 4 meters above
the hull;
(2) On a vessel of less than 20 meters
in length such lights shall be spaced
not less than 1 meter apart and the
lowest of these lights shall, except
where a towing light is required, be
placed at a height of not less than 2
meters above the gunwale;
(3) When three lights are carried they
shall be equally spaced.
(j) The lower of the two all-round
lights prescribed for a vessel when engaged in fishing shall be a height above
the sidelights not less than twice the
distance between the two vertical
lights.
(k) The forward anchor light prescribed in Rule 30(a)(i), when two are
carried, shall not be less than 4.5 meters above the after one. On a vessel of
50 meters or more in length this forward anchor light shall be placed at a
height or not less than 6 meters above
the hull.
[CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as
amended by CGD 89–024, 55 FR 3947, Feb. 6,
1990]

§ 84.05 Horizontal
positioning
and
spacing of lights.
(a) Except as specified in paragraph
(e) of this section, when two masthead

lights are prescribed for a power-driven
vessel, the horizontal distance between
them must not be less than one quarter
of the length of the vessel but need not
be more than 50 meters. The forward
light must be placed not more than one
half of the length of the vessel from the
stem.
(b) On a power-driven vessel of 20 meters or more in length the sidelights
shall not be placed in front of the forward masthead lights. They shall be
placed at or near the side of the vessel.
(c) When the lights prescribed in Rule
27(b)(i) are placed vertically between
the forward masthead light(s) and the
after masthead light(s) these all-round
lights shall be placed at a horizontal
distance of not less than 2 meters from
the fore and aft centerline of the vessel
in the athwartship direction.
(d) When only one masthead light is
prescribed for a power-driven vessel,
this light must be exhibited forward of
amidships. For a vessel of less than 20
meters in length, the vessel shall exhibit one masthead light as far forward
as is practicable.
(e) On power-driven vessels 50 meters
but less than 60 meters in length operated on the Western Rivers, and those
waters specified in § 89.25, the horizontal distance between masthead
lights shall not be less than 10 meters.
[CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as
amended by CGD 88–07, 53 FR 10533, April 1,
1988; CGD 94–011, 63 FR 5731, Feb. 4, 1998]

§ 84.07 Details of location of directionindicating lights for fishing vessels,
dredgers and vessels engaged in underwater operations.
(a) The light indicating the direction
of the outlying gear from a vessel engaged in fishing as prescribed in Rule
26(c)(ii) shall be placed at a horizontal
distance of not less than 2 meters and
not more than 6 meters away from the
two all-round red and white lights.
This light shall be placed not higher
than the all-round white light prescribed in Rule 26(c)(i) and not lower
than the sidelights.
(b) The lights and shapes on a vessel
engaged in dredging or underwater operations to indicate the obstructed side
and/or the side on which it is safe to
pass, as prescribed in Rule 27(d)(i) and
(ii), shall be placed at the maximum

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Coast Guard, DOT

§ 84.15

practical horizontal distance, but in no
case less than 2 meters, from the lights
or shapes prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) and
(ii). In no case shall the upper of these
lights or shapes be at a greater height
than the lower of the three lights or
shapes prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) and
(ii).
§ 84.09 Screens.
(a) The sidelights of vessels of 20 meters or more in length shall be fitted
with mat black inboard screens and
meet the requirements of § 84.17. On
vessels of less than 20 meters in length,
the sidelights, if necessary to meet the
requirements of § 84.17, shall be fitted
with mat black inboard screens. With a
combined lantern, using a single
vertical filament and a very narrow division between the green and red sections, external screens need not be
fitted.
(b) On power-driven vessels less than
12 meters in length constructed after
July 31, 1983, the masthead light, or the
all-round light described in Rule 23(c)
shall be screened to prevent direct illumination of the vessel forward of the
operator’s position.
§ 84.11 Shapes.
(a) Shapes shall be black and of the
following sizes:
(1) A ball shall have a diameter of not
less than 0.6 meter;
(2) A cone shall have a base diameter
of not less than 0.6 meter and a height
equal to its diameter;
(3) A diamond shape shall consist of
two cones (as defined in paragraph
(a)(2) of this section) having a common
base.
(b) The vertical distance between
shapes shall be at least 1.5 meter.
(c) In a vessel of less than 20 meters
in length shapes of lesser dimensions
but commensurate with the size of the
vessel may be used and the distance
apart may be correspondingly reduced.
§ 84.13 Color specification of lights.
(a) The chromaticity of all navigation lights shall conform to the following standards, which lie within the
boundaries of the area of the diagram
specified for each color by the International Commission on Illumination
(CIE), in the ‘‘Colors of Light Signals’’,

which is incorporated by reference. It
is Publication CIE No. 2.2. (TC–1.6),
1975, and is available from the Illumination Engineering Society, 345 East
47th Street, New York, NY 10017. It is
also available for inspection at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of
the Federal Register.
(b) The boundaries of the area for
each color are given by indicating the
corner co-ordinates, which are as follows:
(1) White:
x 0.525 0.525 0.452 0.310 0.310 0.443
y 0.382 0.440 0.440 0.348 0.283 0.382

(2) Green:
x 0.028 0.009 0.300 0.203
y 0.385 0.723 0.511 0.356

(3) Red:
x 0.680 0.660 0.735 0.721
y 0.320 0.320 0.265 0.259

(4) Yellow:
x 0.612 0.618 0.575 0.575
y 0.382 0.382 0.425 0.406

§ 84.15 Intensity of lights.
(a) The minimum luminous intensity
of lights shall be calculated by using
the formula:
I=3.43×10 6×T×D 2×K

minus;D

where I is luminous intensity in candelas
under service conditions,
T is threshold factor 2×10 minus;7 lux,
D is range of visibility (luminous range) of
the light in nautical miles,
K is atmospheric transmissivity. For prescribed lights the value of K shall be 0.8, corresponding to a meteorological visibility of
approximately 13 nautical miles.

(b) A selection of figures derived
from the formula is given in Table
84.15(b):
TABLE 84.15(B)

Range of visibility (luminous range) of light in
nautical miles
D

1
2
3
4

.........................................................................
.........................................................................
.........................................................................
.........................................................................

Minimum luminous intensity of
light in candelas for
K=0.8
I
0.9
4.3
12
27

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§ 84.17

33 CFR Ch. I (7–1–01 Edition)
TABLE 84.15(B)—Continued

Range of visibility (luminous range) of light in
nautical miles
D

Minimum luminous intensity of
light in candelas for
K=0.8
I

5 .........................................................................
6 .........................................................................

§ 84.17

52
94

Horizontal sectors.

(a)(1) In the forward direction,
sidelights as fitted on the vessel shall
show the minimum required intensities. The intensities shall decrease to
reach practical cut-off between 1 and 3
degrees outside the prescribed sectors.
(2) For sternlights and masthead
lights and at 22.5 degrees abaft the
beam for sidelights, the minimum required intensities shall be maintained
over the arc of the horizon up to 5 degrees within the limits of the sectors
prescribed in Rule 21. From 5 degrees
within the prescribed sectors the intensity may decrease by 50 percent up to
the prescribed limits; it shall decrease
steadily to reach practical cut-off at
not more than 5 degrees outside the
prescribed sectors.
(b) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts,
topmasts or structures within angular
sectors of more than 6 degrees, except
anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30,
which need not be placed at an impracticable height above the hull, and the
all-round white light described in Rule
23(d), which may not be obscured at all.
(c) If it is impracticable to comply
with paragraph (b) of this section by
exhibiting only one all-round light, two
all-round lights shall be used suitably
positioned or screened to appear, as far
as practicable, as one light at a minimum distance of one nautical mile.
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (C): Tow unscreened
all-round lights that are 1.28 meters apart or
less will appear as one light to the naked eye
at a distance of one nautical mile.
[CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as
amended by CGD 94–011, 63 FR 5731, Feb. 4,
1998]

§ 84.19

Vertical sectors.

(a) The vertical sectors of electric
lights as fitted, with the exception of

lights on sailing vessels underway and
on unmanned barges, shall ensure that:
(1) At least the required minimum intensity is maintained at all angles
from 5 degrees above to 5 degrees below
the horizontal;
(2) At least 60 percent of the required
minimum intensity is maintained from
7.5 degrees above to 7.5 degrees below
the horizontal.
(b) In the case of sailing vessels underway the vertical sectors of electric
lights as fitted shall ensure that:
(1) At least the required minimum intensity is maintained at all angles
from 5 degrees above to 5 degrees below
the horizontal;
(2) At least 50 percent of the required
minimum intensity is maintained from
25 degrees above to 25 degrees below
the horizontal.
(c) In the case of unmanned barges
the minimum required intensity of
electric lights as fitted shall be maintained on the horizontal.
(d) In the case of lights other than
electric lights these specifications
shall be met as closely as possible
[CGD 81–008, 46 FR 62447, Dec. 24, 1981, as
amended by CGD 89–024, 55 FR 3947, Feb. 6,
1990]

§ 84.21

Intensity of non-electric lights.

Non-electric lights shall so far as
practicable comply with the minimum
intensities, as specified in the Table
given in § 84.15.
§ 84.23

Maneuvering light.

Notwithstanding the provisions of
§ 84.03(f), the maneuvering light described in Rule 34(b) shall be placed approximately in the same fore and aft
vertical plane as the masthead light or
lights and, where practicable, at a minimum
height
of
one-half
meter
vertically above the forward masthead
light, provided that it shall be carried
not less than one-half meter vertically
above or below the after masthead
light. On a vessel where only one masthead light is carried the maneuvering
light, if fitted, shall be carried where it
can best be seen, not less than one-half
meter vertically apart from the masthead light.

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Coast Guard, DOT
§ 84.24

Pt. 86

High-speed craft.

(a) The masthead light of high-speed
craft with a length to breadth ratio of
less than 3.0 may be placed at a height
related to the breadth lower than that
prescribed in § 84.03(a)(1), provided that
the base angle of the isosceles triangle
formed by the side lights and masthead
light when seen in end elevation is not
less than 27 degrees as determined by
the formula in paragraph (b) of this
section.
(b) The minimum height of masthead
light above sidelights is to be determined by the following formula: Tan
27°=X/Y; where Y is the horizontal distance between the sidelights and X is
the height of the forward masthead
light.
[CGD 94–011, 63 FR 5731, Feb. 4, 1998. Redesignated by USCG–1999–5832, 64 FR 34712, June
29, 1999]

§ 84.25

Approval. [Reserved]

PART 85—ANNEX II: ADDITIONAL
SIGNALS FOR FISHING VESSELS
FISHING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY

AUTHORITY: Sec. 3, Pub. L. 96–591; 49 CFR
1.46(n)(14).
SOURCE: CGD 81–006, 46 FR 61845, Dec. 21,
1981, unless otherwise noted.

General.

The lights mentioned herein shall, if
exhibited in pursuance of Rule 26(d), be
placed where they can best be seen.
They shall be at least 0.9 meter apart
but at a lower level than lights prescribed in Rule 26(b)(i) and (c)(i) contained in the Inland Navigational
Rules Act of 1980, as amended (33 U.S.C.
2001 et seq.). The lights shall be visible
all around the horizon at a distance of
at least 1 mile but at a lesser distance
from the lights prescribed by these
Rules for fishing vessels.
§ 85.3

§ 85.5

Signals for purse seiners.

Vessels engaged in fishing with purse
seine gear may exhibit two yellow
lights in a vertical line. These lights
shall flash alternately every second
and with equal light and occultation
duration. These lights may be exhibited only when the vessel is hampered
by its fishing gear.

PART 86—ANNEX III: TECHNICAL
DETAILS OF SOUND SIGNAL APPLIANCES

Sec.
85.1 General.
85.3 Signals for trawlers.
85.5 Signals for purse seiners.

§ 85.1

(1) When shooting their nets: two
white lights in a vertical line;
(2) When hauling their nets: one
white light over one red light in a
vertical line;
(3) When the net has come fast upon
an obstruction: two red lights in a
vertical line.
(b) Each vessel engaged in pair trawling may exhibit:
(1) By night, a searchlight directed
forward and in the direction of the
other vessel of the pair;
(2) When shooting or hauling their
nets or when their nets have come fast
upon an obstruction, the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section.

Subpart A—Whistles
Sec.
86.01 Frequencies and range of audibility.
86.03 Limits of fundamental frequencies.
86.05 Sound signal intensity and range of
audibility.
86.07 Directional properties.
86.09 Positioning of whistles.
86.11 Fitting of more than one whistle.
86.13 Combined whistle systems.
86.15 Towing vessel whistles.

Subpart B—Bell or Gong
86.21
86.23

Intensity of signal.
Construction.

Subpart C—Approval
86.31

Approval. [Reserved]

AUTHORITY: Sec. 3, Pub. L. 96–591; 49 CFR
1.46(n)(14).

Signals for trawlers.

(a) Vessels when engaged in trawling,
whether using demersal or pelagic
gear, may exhibit:

SOURCE: CGD 81–009, 46 FR 61848, Dec. 21,
1981, unless otherwise noted.

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