BOATsmart! Base de connaissances du Canada 

Search and Rescue (SAR) Vessels

When responding to emergencies, search and rescue vessels, as well as police and government vessels, exhibit blue lights. You should steer well clear of a vessel with a Blue Flashing Light.

When towing

If towing another vessel from your stern, you must show:

• Sidelights and a sternlight
• One yellow towing sternlight
• Two masthead lights in a vertical line

If being towed, you must exhibit:

• Sidelights and a sternlight
• A diamond shape
• If you do not have sidelights you must exhibit two aids to navigation, one each at Fore and Aft

When a boat that doesn’t normally tow other boats is engaged in towing, it must display the regular navigation lights and indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing boat and the boat being towed (such as illuminating the towline).

Vessels being pushed

When using a powerboat to push another vessel ahead or tow alongside, you must exhibit:

• Two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights and a sternlight