Question 44 RVR05 - Master of LT 100 GRT

The Correct Answer is A **Explanation for Option A (less than 12 meters in length) being correct:** The U.S. Inland Rules of the Road (which mirror International Rules for small vessels in this regard, specifically Rule 23 concerning Power-driven vessels underway, and Annex I concerning positioning and technical details) provide exceptions for the placement of lights on very small vessels. Vessels less than 12 meters in length are granted dispensation because strict adherence to centerline placement might be impractical due to the size and structure of the vessel. The rules state that if centerline placement is impractical, the masthead light (or the all-round white light serving as the masthead light for vessels less than 20 meters) may be located off the fore and aft centerline, provided the off-center placement does not interfere with the proper sector visibility required by the rule (225 degrees forward arc). **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:** * **Option B (which has separate sidelights carried on the outboard extremes of the vessel's breadth):** The placement of sidelights (even if at the maximum breadth) is independent of the requirement for the masthead light to be placed on the fore and aft centerline. This condition does not grant an exception for masthead light placement. * **Option C (engaged in fishing):** While vessels engaged in fishing have special lighting requirements (green over white all-round lights), when they are displaying their standard masthead light (such as when proceeding to or from the fishing grounds and not actively engaged in fishing, or if they are a power-driven vessel less than 50 meters), the general requirement for centerline placement still applies unless they meet the size exception of being less than 12 meters. The activity itself does not grant a positioning exception. * **Option D (less than 20 meters in length):** Although vessels less than 20 meters have the option of combining the forward masthead light and the stern light into a single all-round white light, the general rule requiring that this light be placed on the centerline still applies. The exception for off-center placement only applies to the subset of vessels that are less than 12 meters in length.