For a barge being towed astern at night, what lights must it display?

• A. Only sternlight
• B. Sidelights and a sternlight
• C. All-round white light
• D. No lights required

Answer: (B)

This question tests how lights communicate the status of a tow at night. When a barge is being towed astern, it isn’t propelled by its own engine, but it is still moving as part of a tow. To other vessels, it must show navigation lights that indicate its presence and orientation: sidelights (the red light on the left and the green light on the right) plus a white sternlight. This combination lets other ships see where the tow is and how it’s moving from the front, sides, and rear, helping prevent collisions in the dark.

The other options aren’t appropriate because a single sternlight doesn’t give enough information about the barge’s position relative to the tow, an all-round white light is used for different situations (like anchored vessels or certain restricted conditions), and no lights at night would violate standard navigation rules and create a hazard.