33 CFR 83.24: Lights and shapes for towing and pushing

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026

This rule sets the lights and shapes for vessels towing or pushing and for the vessels or objects they tow. A tow longer than 200 meters adds a third masthead light and a diamond shape. Special lighting applies to partly submerged tows, group tows, and vessels assisting another in distress.

Applies toPower-driven vessels that tow or push, and the vessels or objects being towed or pushed.

What it says

  1. A power-driven vessel towing astern must exhibit two masthead lights in a vertical line, instead of the light in Rule 23(a)(i) or 23(a)(ii). It must exhibit three such lights when the tow exceeds 200 meters.

    33 CFR 83.24(a)(i)“two masthead lights in a vertical line. When the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 meters, three such lights in a vertical line;”

  2. A power-driven vessel towing astern must also exhibit a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight. When the tow exceeds 200 meters, it must also exhibit a diamond shape where it can best be seen.

    33 CFR 83.24(a)(iv)“A towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight; and”

  3. A pushing vessel and a vessel pushed ahead that are rigidly connected in a composite unit must be regarded as a power-driven vessel and exhibit the lights prescribed in Rule 23.

    33 CFR 83.24(b)“When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel”

  4. A vessel or object being towed, other than those in paragraph (g), must exhibit sidelights and a sternlight. It must also exhibit a diamond shape where it can best be seen when the tow exceeds 200 meters.

    33 CFR 83.24(e)(iii)“When the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.”

  5. A vessel being pushed ahead that is not part of a composite unit must exhibit sidelights and a special flashing light at its forward end.

    33 CFR 83.24(f)(i)“A vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, shall exhibit at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light.”

  6. An inconspicuous, partly submerged tow less than 25 meters in breadth must exhibit one all-round white light at or near each end. If it is 25 meters or more in breadth, it must exhibit four all-round white lights to mark its length and breadth.

    33 CFR 83.24(g)(ii)“If it is 25 meters or more in breadth, four all-round white lights to mark its length and breadth;”

  7. If lights or shapes are impracticable for a tow for any sufficient cause, all possible measures must be taken to light it or at least to indicate its presence.

    33 CFR 83.24(h)“all possible measures shall be taken to light the vessel or object towed or at least to indicate the presence of such vessel or object.”

  8. On the Western Rivers, except below the Huey P. Long Bridge at mile 106.1 Above Head of Passes on the Mississippi River, and on waters specified by the Secretary, a vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside must exhibit sidelights and two towing lights in a vertical line, except where paragraph (b) applies.

    33 CFR 83.24(j)“on the Western Rivers (except below the Huey P. Long Bridge at mile 106.1 Above Head of Passes on the Mississippi River) and on waters specified by the Secretary”

Common questions

What lights does a vessel towing astern show?

It shows two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, a sternlight, and a towing light above the sternlight. It shows three masthead lights if the tow exceeds 200 meters.

“A power-driven vessel when towing astern shall exhibit:”

When must a tow show a diamond shape?

A towed vessel or object, other than those in paragraph (g), must show a diamond shape where it can best be seen when the tow exceeds 200 meters.

“When the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.”

Must a vessel not normally engaged in towing show towing lights when helping a vessel in distress?

Not if it is impracticable for sufficient cause to display them. It must take all possible measures to indicate the relationship between the two vessels.

“All possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing vessel and the vessel being assisted.”

The text of 33 CFR 83.24

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Towing and pushing (Rule 24)

(a) A power-driven vessel when towing astern shall exhibit:

(i) Instead of the light prescribed either in Rule 23(a)(i) or 23(a)(ii) (§§ 83.23(a)(i) and (ii)), two masthead lights in a vertical line. When the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 meters, three such lights in a vertical line;

(ii) Sidelights;

(iii) A sternlight;

(iv) A towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight; and

(v) When the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.

(b) When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and exhibit the lights prescribed in Rule 23 (§ 83.23).

(c) A power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside, except as required by paragraphs (b) and (i) of this Rule, shall exhibit:

(i) Instead of the light prescribed either in Rule 23(a)(i) or 23(a)(ii) (§ 83.23(a)(i) or (ii)), two masthead lights in a vertical line;

(ii) Sidelights; and

(iii) Two towing lights in a vertical line.

(d) A power-driven vessel to which paragraphs (a) or (c) of this Rule applies shall also comply with Rule 23(a) (i) and 23(a)(ii)(§ 83.23(a)(i) or (ii)).

(e) A vessel or object other than those referred to in paragraph (g) of this Rule being towed shall exhibit:

(i) Sidelights;

(ii) A sternlight; and

(iii) When the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.

(f) Provided that any number of vessels being towed alongside or pushed in a group shall be lighted as one vessel, except as provided in paragraph (f)(iii) of this Rule.

(i) A vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, shall exhibit at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light.

(ii) A vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit a sternlight and at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light.

(iii) When vessels are towed alongside on both sides of the towing vessel, a sternlight shall be exhibited on the stern of the outboard vessel on each side of the towing vessel, and a single set of sidelights as far forward and as far outboard as is practicable, and a single special flashing light.

(g) An inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object, or combination of such vessels or objects being towed, shall exhibit:

(i) If it is less than 25 meters in breadth, one all-round white light at or near each end;

(ii) If it is 25 meters or more in breadth, four all-round white lights to mark its length and breadth;

(iii) If it exceeds 100 meters in length, additional all-round white lights between the lights prescribed in paragraphs (g)(i) and (ii) of this Rule so that the distance between the lights shall not exceed 100 meters: provided, that any vessels or objects being towed alongside each other shall be lighted as one vessel or object;

(iv) A diamond shape at or near the aftermost extremity of the last vessel or object being towed; and

(v) The towing vessel may direct a searchlight in the direction of the tow to indicate its presence to an approaching vessel.

(h) Where from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a vessel or object being towed to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in paragraph (e) or (g) of this Rule, all possible measures shall be taken to light the vessel or object towed or at least to indicate the presence of such vessel or object.

(i) Where from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a vessel not normally engaged in towing operations to display the lights prescribed by paragraph (a), (c), or (j) of this Rule, such vessel shall not be required to exhibit those lights when engaged in towing another vessel in distress or otherwise in need of assistance. All possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing vessel and the vessel being assisted. The searchlight authorized by Rule 36 (§ 83.36) may be used to illuminate the tow.

(j) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of this Rule, on the Western Rivers (except below the Huey P. Long Bridge at mile 106.1 Above Head of Passes on the Mississippi River) and on waters specified by the Secretary, a power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside, except as paragraph (b) of this Rule applies, shall exhibit:

(i) Sidelights; and

(ii) Two towing lights in a vertical line.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.