TITLE 33 - US CODE - CHAPTER 3 - NAVIGATION RULES FOR HARBORS, RIVERS, AND INLAND WATERS GENERALLY

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - PRELIMINARY

33 USC 151 - High seas and inland waters demarcation lines

(a) Establishment and purpose
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish appropriate identifiable demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, for the purpose of determining the applicability of special navigational rules in lieu of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

(b) Applicability of other statutes; limitation; position
The Secretary shall also establish appropriate identifiable lines dividing inland waters of the United States from the high seas for the purpose of determining the applicability of each statute that refers to this section or this section, as amended. These lines may not be located more than twelve nautical miles seaward of the base line from which the territorial sea is measured. These lines may differ in position for the purposes of different statutes.

(c) “United States” defined
For the purposes of this section, the term United States includes the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

33 USC 152 - Regulation of length of towlines

The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall prepare regulations limiting the length of hawsers between towing vessels and seagoing barges in tow and the length of such tows within any of the inland waters of the United States designated and defined from time to time pursuant to section 151 of this title, and such regulations shall have the force of law.

33 USC 153 - Penalty for use of unlawful towline

The master of the towing vessel shall be liable to the suspension or revocation of his license for any willful violation of regulations issued pursuant to section 152 of this title in the manner prescribed for incompetency, misconduct, or unskillfulness.

33 USC 154 - Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 96; May 21, 1948, ch. 328, 1, 62 Stat. 249; Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 386, 1, 67 Stat. 497, provided for adoption of rules of navigation of harbors, rivers, and inland waters. See section 2001 of this title. Prior rules for preventing collision prescribed by R.S. 4233 to be followed by vessels of the Navy and mercantile marine of the United States, applicable originally to all waters, were superseded as to navigation on the high seas and waters connected therewith by the International Rules (act Aug. 19, 1890, ch. 802 [sec. 61 et seq. of this title]) were superseded as to navigation on the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal, by act Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64 (section 241 et seq. of this title); were adopted as special rules for the navigation of harbors, rivers, and inland waters of the United States, except the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal by act of Feb. 19, 1895, ch. 102 (see section 301 et seq. of this title); and were superseded by act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, as to navigation of all harbors, rivers, and inland waters of the United States except as specified in this paragraph, leaving them applicable solely to the Red River of the North and the rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries (see section 2001 et seq. of this title).

155 to 159. Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section 155, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 96, defined sailing vessel, steam vessel, and under way. See section 2003 of this title. Section 156, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 96, defined visible. See section 2003 of this title. Section 157, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 2, 30 Stat. 102; May 25, 1914, ch. 98, 38 Stat. 381; June 30, 1932, ch. 314, 501, 502 (b), 47 Stat. 415; May 27, 1936, ch. 463, 1, 49 Stat. 1380; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, 101104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat 1097; May 21, 1948, ch. 328, 3, 62 Stat. 249; Aug. 14, 1958, Pub. L. 85–656, § 1, 72 Stat. 612, provided for promulgation of special rules by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and covered publication of rules and hearings in connection therewith. See section 2071 of this title. Section 157a, Pub. L. 88–163, Oct. 30, 1963, 77 Stat. 281, provided for regulations for navigation or operation under bridges over navigable waters. See section 2001 et seq. of this title. Section 158, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 3, 30 Stat. 102; May 21, 1948, ch. 328, 3, 62 Stat. 249; Aug. 14, 1958, Pub. L. 85–656, § 1, 72 Stat. 612, set out penalties for violations by pilots, engineers, mates, or masters. See section 2072 of this title. Section 159, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 4, 30 Stat. 103; May 21, 1948, ch. 328, 3, 62 Stat. 249; Aug. 14, 1958, Pub. L. 85–656, § 1, 72 Stat. 612, provided for a penalty for violations by vessels. See section 2072 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - RULES CONCERNING LIGHTS, ETC.

171 to 183. Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section 171, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 96, made general provision for the application of rules regarding lights. See section 2020 of this title. Section 172, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 96, related to lights of steam vessels underway. See section 2023 of this title. Section 173, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 97; May 20, 1936, ch. 433, 49 Stat. 1367; May 21, 1948, ch. 328, 2, 62 Stat. 249; Aug. 14, 1958, Pub. L. 85–635, § 1, 72 Stat. 590, related to lights of vessels towing or pushing another vessel. See section 2024 of this title. Section 174, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 97; Mar. 1, 1933, ch. 157, 47 Stat. 1417, related to lights of sailing vessels underway and vessels being towed. See sections 2024 and 2025 of this title. Section 175, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 97, related to lights of small vessels underway in bad weather. See section 2023 of this title. Section 176, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 98, related to lights of rowboats. See section 2025 of this title. Section 177, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 98; Feb. 19, 1900, ch. 22, 1, 31 Stat. 30, related to lights of pilot vessels on and off duty. See section 2029 of this title. Section 178, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 98; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, 101104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097, related to lights of fishing vessels. See section 2026 of this title. Section 179, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 98; Aug. 14, 1958, Pub. L. 85–635, § 2, 72 Stat. 590, related to lights of overtaken vessels. See section 2022 of this title. Section 180, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 98; Apr. 22, 1940, ch. 128, 1, 54 Stat. 150; Aug. 5, 1963, Pub. L. 88–84, § 1, 77 Stat. 116; Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6, 80 Stat. 937, related to lights of vessels at anchor. See section 2030 of this title. Section 181, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 99, related to additional lights when necessary. See section 2022 of this title. Section 182, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 99, related to special lights for ships of war and convoy. See section 2071 of this title. Section 183, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 99, related to day signal of vessels under sail. See section 2025 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG, ETC.; SPEED

191, 192. Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section 191, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 99; Aug. 5, 1963, Pub. L. 88–84, § 2, 77 Stat. 116, made general provision for sound signals for fog, etc. See section 2035 of this title. Section 192, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 99, related to speed of vessels in fog, etc. See section 2006 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - STEERING AND SAILING RULES AND SIGNALS

201 to 213. Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section 201, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 100, related to ascertainment of risk of collision. See section 2007 of this title. Section 202, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 100, related to sailing vessels approaching one another. See section 2012 of this title. Section 203, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 100; Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 595, 2, 49 Stat. 669, related to steam vessels approaching, meeting, or passing one another. See section 2013 et seq. of this title. Section 204, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101, related to steam vessels crossing. See section 2015 of this title. Section 205, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101; Nov. 5, 1966, Pub. L. 89–764, § 1, 80 Stat. 1313, related to steam and sailing vessels meeting. See section 2018 of this title. Section 206, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101, provided that vessel having the right of way was to keep course. See section 2017 of this title. Section 207, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101, related to situation when a vessel crosses ahead of a vessel having the right-of-way. See section 2015 of this title. Section 208, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101, related to duty of steam vessels to slacken speed. See section 2006 of this title. Section 209, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101, provided that an overtaking vessel keep out of the way and defined the term overtaking vessel. See section 2013 of this title. Section 210, acts June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 101; Nov. 5, 1966, Pub. L. 89–764, § 2, 80 Stat. 1313, related to operation of steam vessels in a narrow channel. See section 2009 of this title. Section 211, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, related to right of way of fishing vessels or boats. See section 2018 of this title. Section 212, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, provided for departure from the rules in special circumstances. See section 2002 of this title. Section 213, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, related to signal to be given that a vessels engines are going at full speed astern. See section 2034 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - NO VESSEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO NEGLECT PROPER PRECAUTIONS

221, 222. Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section 221, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, related to usual additional precautions generally required. See section 2002 of this title. Section 222, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, related to suspension of rules regarding the exhibition of lights on vessels of war or of the Coast Guard. See section 2001 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VI - DISTRESS SIGNALS

33 USC 231 - Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, 30 Stat. 102, related to distress signals. See section 2037 of this title.

TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VII - ORDERS

33 USC 232 - Repealed. Pub. L. 96591, 8(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435

Section, act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 1, as added Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 595, 2, 49 Stat. 669, related to orders to helmsmen.