River Byelaws 1978 (as amended) - Maps

Appendix IV Diagrams

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POWER DRIVEN VESSELS - UNDERWAY
Power driven vessel over 50 metres in length	Rules 22 and 23 A power driven vessel of 50 metres or more in length when underway shall carry two white masthead lights visible 6 miles; green and red side lights and white stern lights visible 3 miles.
Power driven vessel over 50 metres in length	A power driven vessel of 12 metres or more but less than 50 metres in length when underway need not carry the second white masthead light but may do so. Visibility of lights may b reduced to 5 miles and 2 miles respectively. Visibility of lights of a power driven vessel of less than 12 metres is 2 miles for masthead and stern lights and for side lights 1 mile. Byelaw 21(b) A power driven vessel which proceeds above London Bridge may when navigating above cherry Garden Pier carry the white masthead light at a less height than required for other vessels and in line with the stem. General Direction 17 A vessel of 40 metres or more in length when navigating upstream of Cherry Garden Pier shall exhibit one or more white lights to illuminate the bow. Rule 23(c) A power driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may carry an all-round white light and side lights in lieu of the lights prescribed in Rule 23(a). A power driven vessel of less than 7 metres in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may carry an all-round white light in lieu of the white masthead light and shall if practicable carry side lights.
Power driven vessel over 50 metres in length
Power driven vessel above London Bridge
Power driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length

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SMALL VESSELS
Sailing vessel (masthead lights are optional)	Rule 25(a) and (c) A sailing vessel underway shall carry sidelights and a stern light and may carry all-round red over green lights at the masthead.
Sailing vessel under 20 metres (optional)	Rule 25(b) A sailing vessel of less than 20 metres in length when underway may carry in lieu of the above mentioned lights a combined lantern showing sidelights and a stern light.
Boat under oars or sail	Rule 25(d) A sailing vessel of less than 7 metres in length and a vessel under oars shall if unable to show the lights required by Rule 25(a) and (b) show an electric torch or lantern in sufficient time to avoid collision.
TOWING LIGHTS
Tug towing another vessel tow length less than 200 metres	Rule 24 A vessel towing shall show two white masthead lights in a vertical line if the tow length is less than 200 metres. The towing vessel shall also carry side and stern lights and a yellow towing light above the sternlight.
Tug towing another vessel by night and length of tow exceeds 200 metres	If the tow length exceeds 200 metres a third white masthead light shall be carried. If the vessel being towed is also under power she would carry normal white masthead lights.

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TOWING - DAYMARKS
Tug towing another vessel by day and length of tow exceeds 200 metres	Rule 24 If the length of a tow exceeds 200 metres the towing vessel and vessel towed shall carry a black diamond shape 0.6 metres in a cross-section.
TOWING/PUSHING LIGHTERS - LIGHTS
Tug towing four lighters	Byelaw 28(1) Lighters being towed shall show a white all-round light at the stern of the aftermost or in the stern of the port aftermost lighter whichever is the longer. If towed alongside the light shall be carried on the stern of the lighter on the side furthest away from the towing vessel.
Tug pushing another vessel	Byelaw 28(2) A lighter being pushed ahead or if more than one then the foremost lighter shall carry a white masthead light forward not less than 1 metre above the hull. The pushing vessel shall carry side and stern lights and a white masthead light which is higher than the white masthead light on the vessel being pushed (i.e. craft and pushing vessel appear to be lighted as one vessel over 50 metres in length).

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VESSELS NOT UNDER COMMAND
Vessel not under command - by day	Rule 27(a) A vessel which is not under command shall carry two vertically placed black balls or shapes 2 metres apart.
Vessel not under command - by night	By night all-round red lights shall be carried in place of the shapes and when making way through the water sidelights and stern lights shall be carried.
FERRIES
Power driven ferries - by day	Byelaw 27(1)(a) A ferry operating below Tower Bridge shall have the word FERRY painted on each side of the vessel in figures 1 metre high in a contrasting colour.
Power driven ferry - by night	Byelaw 27(1)(b) By night a ferry shall carry amidships in addition to sidelights, and the forward and stern lights prescribed by Rule 23(a) a blue light over a white light not less than 2 metres or more than 3 metres apart visible all round the horizon at least 1 mile.
Power driven ferry - by night	Byelaw 27(2) If unable to carry the lights required by Byelaw 27(1)(b), blue lights shall be carried between 2 and 3 metres above both the masthead and stern light required by Rules 23(a)(i) and 23(a)(iv) and shall be of the same construction as those lights, visible 1 mile.

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VESSELS RESTRICTED IN THEIR ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
Vessel of less than 50 metres engaged in underwater work underway - by night	Rule 27(b) A vessel engaged in underwater work such as salvage, overhauling moorings, surveying etc. shall carry by night three all-round vertical lights red over white over red and where appropriate the lights required for a vessel underway or at anchor. By day such a vessel shall carry 3 vertical black shapes the highest and lowest being ball shaped and the middle a diamond. If at anchor she shall also carry the anchor ball required by rule 30. Lights and shapes should be 2 metres apart but may be 1 metre apart in vessels under 20 metres in length.
Vessel engaged in underwater work at anchor or moored - by day
Vessel engaged in underwater work with one sided obstructed - by night	Rule 27(d) A vessel engaged in underwater operations and dredging, where an obstruction exists shall carry the lights and shapes required by Rule 27 (b)(i) and (ii) and in addition carry: (a) 2 red all-round vertical lights or 2 black balls on the the obstructed side. (b) 2 green all-round vertical lights or 2 black diamond shapes to indicate the safe passing side. When at anchor, vessels shall carry these lights and shapes instead of anchor lights and shapes.
Vessel engaged in underwater work with one side obstructed - by day

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DIVING OPERATIONS
Vessel engaged in diving operations - by day	Rule 27(e) Byelaw 26 A vessel engaged in diving operations shall carry where it can best be seen By day - A rigid replica of the international code flag"A" at least 1 metre square. By day - The attendant boat or craft from which the diver is working shall fly a conspicuous red flag 1 metre square in a position close to the diver's point of entry into the water. By night - An illuminated rigid replica of the international code flag "A" at least 1 metre square.
Vessel engaged in diving operations - by night
VESSELS ANCHORED OR MOORED
Vessel over 50 metres in length at anchor or moored	Rule 30 Byelaw 25 All vessels moored and at anchor except for lighters and permanently moored vessels, shall show the lights and shapes required by Rule 30.
Vessel under 50 metres in length at anchor or moored
Vessel anchored or moored - by day

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VESSELS AGROUND
Vessel aground below Cherry Garden Pier - by night	Rule 30(d) A vessel aground shall show the lights and shapes prescribed in Rule 30(d) except for:- (a) Vessels above Cherry Garden Pier (b) Vessels on berths (c) Lighters
Vessel aground below Cherry Garden Pier - by day
HYDROFOIL VESSELS AND HOVERCRAFT
Hovercraft underway - by day	Byelaw 24 Hydrofoils and hovercraft when underway by day or night shall show an all-round flashing yellow light in addition to the lights prescribed in Rule 23.
VESSELS CONSTRAINED BY THEIR DRAUGHT
Deep draught vessel - by night	Rule 28 A vessel which is in any way restricted by her draught shall carry by night, in addition to normal navigation lights, 3 all-round red lights in a vertical line. By day a black cylinder at least 0.6 metres in diameter and a height of twice its diameter.
Deep draught vessel - by day

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FISHING VESSELS
Vessel fishing - by day	Rule 26 By day a fishing vessel including a trawler shall carry two black cones, points together.
Vessel fishing - by night	By night a fishing vessel (except if trawling) shall carry red over white all-round lights visible 3 miles and when making way, sidelights and sternlight.
Trawler - by night	By night a fishing vessel engaged in trawling shall carry green over white lights visible 3 miles, a masthead light abaft of and higher than the green light and when making way, sidelights and sternlight.

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DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES IN HARBOUR AREAS REGULATIONS 1987
Vessel carrying a dangerous substance - by day	Regulation 8 In addition to normal navigation lights and signals, a vessel carrying a dangerous substance shall display by day a red flag.
Vessel carrying a dangerous substance when moored or anchored at night	When moored or anchored at night a vessel carrying a dangerous substance shall carry, in addition, to the lights prescribed by International Rule 30(a), a red light so positioned as to be as conspicuous as reasonably practicable and above any other light displayed by the vessel.
Vessel without a mast carrying a dangerous substance by day	In the case of a vessel without a mast the red flag shall be of rigid metal.

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Sound Signals
	Part D of the International Rules modified by Byelaw 32. Byelaws 30 to 40.
	Vessels in sight of one another
	I am altering my course to Starboard.
	I am altering my course to Port.
	My engines are going astern.
	I am doubtful if you are taking sufficient avoiding action
	Any of the above whistle signals may also be indicated by a white light as described in rule 34(b).
	I am about to turn round, head to Starboard.
	I am about to turn round, head to Port.
	I am about to leave dock, wharf or tier.
	I intend to overtake on your Starboard side.
	I intend to overtake on your Port side.
	You may overtake on the side you have indicated.
	Fog Signals
(every 2 mins)	Power-driven vessel underway and making way through the water
(every 2 mins)	Power-driven vessel underway but not making way through the water or dropping up or down river on the tide with an anchor on the ground.
(every 2 mins)	Vessels not under command, restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, constrained by their draft, towing or pushing another vessel, a sailing vessel or fishing vessel.
(every 2 mins)	Vessels being towed (if manned).
(as necessary)	Pilot vessels on station.
(as necessary)	Vessels at anchor to warn an approaching vessel of possible collision (additional to anchor signals listed below).

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Sound Signals
(Bell) (Gong) (every 1 minute)	A vessel of 100 metres or more when at anchor.
(Bell) (every 1 minute)	Vessels of less than 100 metres when at anchor.
(every 1 minute)	Vessels of 100 metres or more aground. Does not apply to vessels (i) above Cherry Garden Pier (ii) Vessels berthed (iii) Lighters. Small craft of less than 12 metres and lighters are not required to sound these fog signals but if they do not do so they should make some other efficient sound signal.

	Special Sound Signals at Gravesend
	I require a pilot (by inward vessels).
	I wish to exchange pilots (by outward vessel).
	River pilot requires to land - no channel pilot required (by outward vessel).
	Special Sound Signals for Tower Bridge
	I am ready and in position to pass through Tower Bridge and require the bascules to be raised.

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BRIDGES
Byelaw 29 (1) When an arch or span of a bridge is closed to navigation the following signals shall be suspended from the centre of that arch. By night - 3 red lights in an equilateral triangle as shown. By day - 3 red discs in place of the lights each 0.6 metres in diameter.

(2) When the headroom of an arch or span is reduced, but still open to traffic, the following signals shall be suspended from the centre of that arch. By night - 1 white light By day - a bundle of straw large enough to be easily visible. Isophase lights are exhibited on certain arches of the bridges from Tower Bridge to Putney Bridge to warn navigators of the imminent passage of large vessels. General Direction 18 Isophase lights are also exhibited on Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on request to Port Control London to indicate maximum air draft passage for high air draft vessels.

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TOWER BRIDGE SIGNALS
Bascules closed	By day and night Bascules closed A red light will be shown both up and down stream from the piers on each side of the bascules.
Bascules open	Bascules open A green light will be shown both up and down stream from the piers on each side of the bascules.
	Fog signal When the bridge is open for river traffic in fog, a high frequency repetitive note of 820 cycles per second will be transmitted for 10 seconds at 10 second intervals. Should this break down, hand beaten gongs will be sounded from the north pier at 30 second intervals. When the bascules are down, no signal will be made. 24 hours notice to open the Bridge Vessels wishing to pass through the Bridge and requiring the Bridge to be opened must inform the Bridge Master not less than 24 hours before passage is required - telephone number 0171 - 407 0922