
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC2026]

 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
                  CHAPTER 34--INLAND NAVIGATIONAL RULES
 
                           SUBCHAPTER I--RULES
 
                        Part C--Lights and Shapes
 
Sec. 2026. Fishing vessels (Rule 26)


(a) Exhibition of only prescribed lights and shapes

    A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall 
exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

(b) Vessels engaged in trawling

    A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging 
through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing 
appliance, shall exhibit:
        (i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being 
    green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with 
    their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;
        (ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round 
    green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be 
    obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so; and
        (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the 
    lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(c) Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling

    A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:
        (i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red 
    and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes 
    together in a vertical line one above the other;
        (ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters 
    horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone 
    apex upward in the direction of the gear; and
        (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the 
    lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(d) Vessels engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels 
        engaged in fishing

    The additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules apply to 
a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged 
in fishing.

(e) Vessels when not engaged in fishing

    A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or 
shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel 
of her length.

(Pub. L. 96-591, Sec. 2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3427; Pub. L. 104-324, 
title VII, Sec. 701(5), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3933.)

                       References in Text

    Annex II to these Rules, referred to in par. (d), is to be 
established by the Secretary under section 2071 of this title.

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of section 2 of Pub. L. 96-591 which 
enacted the Inland Navigational Rules which comprise this subchapter.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pars. (b)(i), (c)(i). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 701(5)(A), struck 
out ``a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this 
shape exhibit a basket;'' after ``above the other;''.
    Par. (d). Pub. L. 104-324 amended par. (d) generally. Prior to 
amendment, par. (d) read as follows: ``A vessel engaged in fishing in 
close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing may exhibit the 
additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 2020, 2031 of this title.
