Yellow over white navigation lights indicate which operation?

• A. Towing at night
• B. Trawling at night
• C. Fishing at night
• D. Pilot ahead

Answer: (A)

Navigation lights tell other vessels what you’re doing at night, and the yellow light positioned above a white light is the specific signal for towing. When a vessel is towing a gear, barge, or another vessel, it displays a yellow towing light over a white light so nearby mariners can recognize the tow operation and give extra space. This helps account for the usually longer stopping distance and the potential hazards from gear and lines in the water.

Other operations have different light patterns, so they don’t match this two-light arrangement. For example, trawling or fishing at night and signaling a pilot ahead use their own distinct configurations, which are not the yellow-over-white towing pattern.