What does it mean if a power-driven vessel has a red, green, and white light?

A power-driven vessel displaying a red, green, and white light configuration is indicating its status and direction relative to other vessels. The red light denotes the port side, the green light represents the starboard side, and the white light indicates the stern of the vessel. When you see all three lights, it essentially means you are looking at the vessel from the front, and they are navigating towards you.

This configuration is particularly important for maintaining safe navigation and awareness on the water. Other vessels can easily identify the type of vessel they are dealing with and whether they are required to give way or alter their course to avoid a collision. In contrast, the other options relate to different situations that do not involve the specific combination of lights indicating the vessel is approaching you head-on, which is why they do not apply in this context.