⚓ SeamanEnglish beta

Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (RAM)

Red, white, red all-round lights in a vertical line. "Red, white, red: restricted ahead." Her work limits her ability to manoeuvre (dredging, cable laying).

fog
60°

Drag across the scene to walk around the ship. Tap a light to see its name.

arcs = Rule 21 sectors

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

Lights (Rule 27b)

LightColourSectorHeight above water
red all-round light (upper) red all-round, 360° 19 m
white all-round light (middle) white all-round, 360° 17 m
red all-round light (lower) red all-round, 360° 15 m
white forward masthead light (when making way) white masthead, 225° (from right ahead to 22.5° abaft the beam on each side) 16 m
white after masthead light (when making way, 50 m and over) white masthead, 225° (from right ahead to 22.5° abaft the beam on each side) 20.5 m
green sidelight (when making way) green sidelight, starboard, 112.5° 13 m
red sidelight (when making way) red sidelight, port, 112.5° 13 m
white sternlight (when making way) white stern, 135° (around the stern) 6 m

Model: a 90 m ship with the superstructure aft. Heights and positions follow COLREG Annex I (positioning of lights).

Day shapes

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

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

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

RAM has a white light in the middle (red-white-red). NUC shows two reds with no white.

When making way she adds masthead, side and stern lights. At anchor she adds anchor lights. By day: ball, diamond, ball.

Quick answers

What lights does a vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (RAM) show at night?

Red, white, red all-round lights in a vertical line. In full: red all-round light (upper); white all-round light (middle); red all-round light (lower); white forward masthead light (when making way); white after masthead light (when making way, 50 m and over); green sidelight (when making way); red sidelight (when making way); white sternlight (when making way).

What day shapes does a vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (RAM) show?

By day she shows: upper ball; middle diamond; lower ball.

What is the fog signal of a vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (RAM)?

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

Test yourself: lights quiz All 13 vessel types Open in the trainer