Part C · Lights and shapes · Rule 31
Seaplanes
31 Where it is impracticable for a seaplane or a WIG craft to exhibit lights and shapes of the characteristics or in the positions prescribed in the Rules of this Part she shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as is possible.
- “Where it is impracticable for a seaplane or a WIG craft”A seaplane is any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water (Rule 3(e)). A WIG craft flies close to the surface using surface effect (Rule 3(m)). Both count as vessels under Rule 3(a), so Part C applies to them.
- “to exhibit lights and shapes of the characteristics or in the positions prescribed in the Rules of this Part”Their wings, floats and hull shape can make it impossible to fit lights with the exact arcs, spacing or positions that Part C (Rules 20 to 31) and Annex I require.
- “she shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as is possible”She must still show the nearest possible match: the same colours and meaning, as close as she can get to the right positions and arcs. So her lights may be spaced or placed differently from a ship’s, but they still tell you what she is and which way she is heading.
A seaplane or WIG craft shows the normal lights and shapes as closely as her design allows, so expect them to look slightly different. A seaplane on the water must in general keep well clear of all vessels (Rule 18(e)); a WIG craft on the water counts as a power-driven vessel (Rule 18(f)(ii)).