22.27 Vessels not under command or restricted in their ability to manoeuvre

(1) A vessel not under command must exhibit—

(a) two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen; and

(b) two black balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen; and

(c) when making way through the water, sidelights and a sternlight.

(2) A vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre, other than a vessel engaged in mine clearance operations, must exhibit—

(a) three 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

(b) three black shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest of these shapes being balls and the middle one a diamond; and

(c) when making way through the water, a masthead light or lights, sidelights, and a sternlight; and

(d) when at anchor, the light, lights, or shape prescribed in rule 22.30 for vessels at anchor.

(3) A power-driven vessel engaged in a towing operation which severely restricts the towing vessel and its tow in their ability to deviate from their course must display the lights or shapes prescribed in rules 22.24(1) and 22.27(2)(a) and (b).

(4) A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, which restrict its ability to manoeuvre, must exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in rule 22.27(2)(a), (b), and (c).

In addition, when an obstruction exists, it must exhibit—

(a) two all-round red lights or two black balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists; and

(b) two all-round green lights or two black diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the vessel may pass; and

(c) when at anchor, the lights or shapes prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shapes prescribed in rule 22.30 for vessels at anchor.

(5) If the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shapes prescribed in rule 22.27(4), the following must be exhibited—

(a) three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest being red and the middle light white; and

(b) a rigid replica of the International Code flag “A” of—

(i) not less than one metre in height; or

(ii) in the case of a New Zealand ship of less than six metres in length operating in New Zealand waters, not less than 0.6 metres in height,

with measures taken to ensure its all-round visibility.

(6) A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations must display the following lights in addition to the lights prescribed in rule 22.23 or rule 22.30 for a power-driven vessel underway or at anchor—

three all-round green lights or three black balls.

One of these lights or shapes must be exhibited near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1000 metres of the mine clearance vessel.

(7) Vessels of less than 12 metres in length, except those involved in diving operations, are not required to exhibit the lights and shapes of rule 22.27.