Question 25 UFV02 - Mate - Uninspected Fishing Vessels

The Correct Answer is B **Explanation for Option B (Correct Answer):** The placement of navigation lights, including the masthead light, is governed by the Rules of the Road (specifically, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea - COLREGS, and equivalent Inland Rules). Rule 23 details the lights for power-driven vessels underway. However, Rule 23(b) (and Rule 23(d) for Inland Waters regarding reduced requirements) provides specific exemptions for small vessels: For power-driven vessels **less than 12 meters in length**, Rule 23(b) states that they "shall, if it is impracticable to carry the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, carry the masthead light or all-around white light, as appropriate, and sidelights at other than the fore and aft centerline, provided that the required masthead light or all-around white light is placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel." Therefore, vessels less than 12 meters in length are explicitly allowed to locate the masthead light off the centerline if centerline placement is impractical. *(Note on "INLAND ONLY": While COLREGS applies internationally, the Inland Rules mirror this small vessel exception. For example, US Inland Rule 23(d) explicitly permits vessels less than 12 meters to carry lights that are "offset" from the centerline if prescribed lights cannot be carried.)* **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** **A) which has separate sidelights carried on the outboard extremes of the vessel's breadth:** While large vessels may carry separate sidelights on the outboard extremes, this condition relates to the sidelights, not the masthead light. There is no general rule permitting the masthead light to be placed off the centerline based solely on the placement of the sidelights. **C) engaged in fishing:** Vessels engaged in fishing must carry the lights prescribed for fishing vessels (Rule 26) in addition to the standard masthead light (if they are power-driven). While fishing vessels have specific light configurations, Rule 26 does not grant a general exemption allowing the masthead light to be carried significantly off the centerline, unless the vessel also falls under the "less than 12 meters" exemption (Option B). **D) less than 20 meters in length:** While vessels less than 20 meters are considered "small vessels" and have certain relaxed requirements (e.g., combining the masthead light and stern light into an all-around light), the specific exemption allowing the masthead light to be placed off the fore and aft centerline due to impracticability is generally reserved for the *smallest* category of power-driven vessels, defined as **less than 12 meters** (Option B). Vessels between 12 and 20 meters must still adhere to the centerline placement rule unless otherwise specified.