Question 644 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) vessel towing astern. The lights displayed in illustration D073RR indicate that the vessel is towing another vessel astern (behind it). This is in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules, which require vessels engaged in towing to display specific light configurations to signal their status to other vessels. The other options are incorrect because they do not match the light configuration shown in the illustration. Vessels laying submarine cable, fishing vessels trolling, and dredging vessels have different light arrangements to indicate their activities.