Question 27 ONC03 - Master LT 500-1600 GRT

The Correct Answer is C ### Why Option C (sidelights and two towing lights) is correct: The question specifies a power-driven vessel that is either pushing ahead or towing alongside (which are handled identically for lighting purposes) and specifies the location as the **Western Rivers (above the Huey P. Long Bridge on the Mississippi River at mile 106.1)**, meaning this vessel is governed by the **Inland Rules**. The Inland Rules (specifically 33 CFR 89.27 - Vessels on the Western Rivers) modify the lighting requirements for power-driven vessels when pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Western Rivers. 1. **Sidelights:** All vessels underway must exhibit sidelights (red on port, green on starboard). 2. **Masthead Lights (Towing/Pushing Identification):** Inland Rule 24 specifies that power-driven vessels engaged in towing or pushing (where the length of the tow measured from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 meters) normally require three vertical white lights (towing lights/masthead lights). However, Western Rivers modifications override this standard: * **33 CFR 89.27(a)(1):** A power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside shall exhibit the sidelights and **two towing lights** in a vertical line. 3. **Stern Light:** On the Western Rivers, vessels engaged in pushing ahead or towing alongside do *not* exhibit a single stern light. The two towing lights serve the function of identifying the operation to approaching traffic from astern. Therefore, the required configuration is **sidelights and two towing lights**. ### Why the other options are incorrect: **A) one masthead light, sidelights, and stern light:** This configuration describes a standard power-driven vessel less than 50 meters in length (not engaged in towing or pushing) or a standard towing vessel less than 20 meters in length towing astern (which is less common on the Western Rivers and would still require two towing lights instead of one masthead light). It does not correctly identify a vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Western Rivers. **B) two masthead lights, sidelights, and stern light:** This configuration typically describes a standard power-driven vessel over 50 meters in length, or, if interpreting the masthead lights as towing lights, a standard towing vessel (less than 200 meters tow length) towing astern under International/standard Inland Rules. This is incorrect for the Western Rivers operation described because it includes a stern light (which is omitted) and does not use the specific terminology "towing lights" for the vertical white lights. **D) two masthead lights, sidelights, and two towing lights:** This configuration incorrectly mixes standard masthead lights (or standard Rule 24 towing lights) with the specific Western Rivers Rule 89.27 requirement. The Western Rivers Rule explicitly replaces the standard forward/aft masthead light requirements with the requirement for **only** the two vertical towing lights (plus sidelights) when pushing ahead or towing alongside. It also typically implies a stern light is omitted, but the inclusion of "masthead lights" makes this configuration inaccurate and excessive.