Refresh Maritime
Video Legacy

Rule 30 - Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground

Back to COLREGs in Depth

Overview

Rule 30 defines the lights and shapes that are required by vessels at anchor and vessels that are aground.

The rule describes the lights and shapes required by vessels at anchor, and then describes the additional requirements for vessels aground.

Rule 30 - Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground

  1. A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

    1. in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
    2. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in sub-paragraph (i), an all-round white light.
  2. A vessel of less than 50 metres in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
  3. A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
  4. A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:

    1. two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
    2. three balls in a vertical line.
  5. A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
  6. A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (d) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.
Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs)

About This Work

This video was originally created for the YouTube channel Casual Navigation before later being republished under Refresh Maritime, where it has since been viewed over 50,000 times.

We regularly receive feedback that the COLREGs in Depth series is still used by cadets and nautical colleges around the world.

Do you like what you see?

For licensing enquiries, bespoke projects, or general messages, feel free to get in touch.