RIG FOR RED meaning The term "Rig for Red" is actually an older term, since most submarines today use broadband Blue lighting for night operations. Many spaces on older boats still have Red lighting, though. "Rig for Red" is normally a command used in the Control Room. It is normally used when the boat is going to be surfacing or coming to Periscope Depth at night. The purpose is to give the lookouts and the officer designated to head to the bridge upon surfacing a chance for their eyes to adjust to darkness, or the OOD the same thing before looking through the Periscope. However, with the change to Blue, often times Red glasses are also used to provide the same effect and then Control is changed when the command is given to surface or come to PD.