What color is a towing light typically on a vessel?

A towing light on a vessel is typically white. This light helps indicate to other vessels that a tow is in operation, ensuring that they are aware of the additional length and maneuverability challenges imposed by the towed vessel. The usage of a white light for towing aligns with international maritime regulations, specifically the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), which standardize navigation light configurations to enhance safety at sea.

While other colors, such as red and green, are used to signify port and starboard navigation lights respectively, and yellow may be associated with specific warning signals, the defining characteristic of a towing light is its white color. This is vital for maintaining safe navigation practices and for other vessels to clearly understand the nature of any vessels they may encounter.