Vessel aground
Anchor lights plus two red all-round lights in a vertical line. Anchor lights plus two reds in a vertical line: she is aground. By day: three balls.
Drag across the scene to walk around the ship. Tap a light to see its name.
Lights (Rule 30d)
| Light | Colour | Sector | Height above water |
|---|---|---|---|
| white all-round anchor light, forward | white | all-round, 360° | 14 m |
| white all-round anchor light, near the stern | white | all-round, 360° | 9 m |
| red all-round light (upper) | red | all-round, 360° | 18 m |
| red all-round light (lower) | red | all-round, 360° | 16 m |
Model: a 90 m ship with the superstructure aft. Heights and positions follow COLREG Annex I (positioning of lights).
Day shapes
- ball · upper ball
- ball · middle ball
- ball · lower ball
Shapes are black and hoisted where they can best be seen: a ball at least 0.6 m in diameter, vertical spacing at least 1.5 m (Annex I, section 6). Set the trainer above to day to see them.
Fog signal
Three distinct strokes on the bell, rapid ringing for about 5 seconds, then three strokes again (Rule 35h).
A short blast lasts about 1 second, a prolonged blast 4 to 6 seconds (Rule 32). The play button is in the trainer above.
What to watch for
Two reds above anchor lights = aground. Two reds alone (moving, no anchor lights) = NUC.
Quick answers
What lights does a vessel aground show at night?
Anchor lights plus two red all-round lights in a vertical line. In full: white all-round anchor light, forward; white all-round anchor light, near the stern; red all-round light (upper); red all-round light (lower).
What day shapes does a vessel aground show?
By day she shows: upper ball; middle ball; lower ball.
What is the fog signal of a vessel aground?
Three distinct strokes on the bell, rapid ringing for about 5 seconds, then three strokes again (Rule 35h).