White-over-red all-round lights when on pilotage duty.
Paragraph (a): On pilotage duty
A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
(i) at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper white and the lower red;
(ii) when underway, sidelights and a sternlight in addition;
(iii) when at anchor, the anchor light, lights or shape in addition to the lights in (i).
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Bow / head-on
Port side
Starboard side
Stern / overtaking
Rule 29 Pilot vessel on duty
Wording follows the International Regulations as printed in the US Coast Guard Navigation Rules handbook (2024), with British spelling, and is shortened in places. Download the rules
Read the whole of Rule 29 on one page
Paragraph (a): On pilotage duty
A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
(i) at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper white and the lower red;
(ii) when underway, sidelights and a sternlight in addition;
(iii) when at anchor, the anchor light, lights or shape in addition to the lights in (i).
Paragraph (b): Not on pilotage duty
A pilot vessel not engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed for a similar vessel of her length.
A training aid, not the official text. The COLREGs are an IMO convention, and your national authority publishes the version that applies in its waters. Check the rules themselves before you rely on them at sea. Download the rules.