United States Code

keel, and so arranged that one or the other or both shall be visible from any angle of approach.

(f) A steam vessel not more than one hundred feet in length shall carry also a bright white light aft to show all around the horizon. Such light shall be placed in line with the keel higher than the light required by subdivision (a) of this section. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 645; May 17, 1928, ch. 600, 45 Stat. 592; Feb. 28, 1929, ch. 370, 45 Stat. 1405; May 9, 1932, ch. 175, § 1, 47 Stat. 152; Mar. 18, 1948, ch. 138, §§ 1-3, 62 Stat. 82.)

AMENDMENTS

1948 Subd. (a). Act Mar. 18, 1948, § 1, required the white light on the fore part of the ship to be displayed at a greater height above the water than the side lights. Subd. (e). Act Mar. 18, 1948, § 2, brought within the requirements of this subd. vessels of 100 ft. or over registered length.

Subd. (f). Act Mar. 18, 1948, § 3, added subd. (f).

1932 Subd. (a). Act May 9, 1932, added a proviso permitting canal vessels to carry the headlight at not less than twenty feet above the hull.

1929 Subd. (e). Act Feb. 28, 1929, substituted reference to "(a)" for "(e)".

1928 Subd. (e). Act May 17, 1928, authorized, among other changes, as an alternative to the single white light requirement, the carrying of two white lights.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1932 AMENDMENT

Section 2 of act May 9, 1932, provided that: "This Act shall take effect April 15, 1932."

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1062 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 172 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 312 et seq. of this title.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in sections 253, 255, 295 of this title.

§ 253. Lights of steam vessel having a tow other than raft (Rule 4).

A steam vessel having a tow other than a raft shall in addition to the forward bright light mentioned in subdivision (a) of section 252 of this title carry in a vertical line not less than six feet above or below that light a second bright light of the same construction and character and fixed and carried in the same manner as the forward bright light mentioned in said subdivision (a) of section 252 of this title. Such steamer shall also carry a small bright light abaft the funnel or after mast for the tow to steer by, but such light shall not be visible forward of the beam. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 646.)

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1065 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 174 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 317 of this title.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS This section is referred to in section 254 of this title.

§ 254. Lights of steam vessel having raft in tow (Rule 5).

A steam vessel having a raft in tow shall, instead of the forward lights mentioned in section 253 of this

title, carry on or in front of the foremast, or if a vessel without a foremast then in the fore part of the vessel, at a height above the hull of not less than twenty feet, and if the beam of the vessel exceeds twenty feet, then at a height above the hull not less than such beam, so however that such height need not exceed forty feet, two bright lights in a horizontal line athwartships and not less than eight feet apart, each so fixed as to throw the light all around the horizon and of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least five miles. Such steamer shall also carry the small bright steering light aft, of the character and fixed as required in section 253 of this title. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 646.)

§ 255. Lights of sailing vessel under way and vessel in tow (Rule 6).

A sailing vessel under way and any vessel being towed shall carry the side lights mentioned in section 252 of this title.

A vessel in tow shall also carry a small bright light aft, but such light shall not be visible forward of the beam. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 646.) CROSS REFERENCES

Similar rules

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1065 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 174 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 317 of this title.

§ 256. Lights of small tugs, boats on River St. Lawrence, ferryboats, rafts, and canal boats; regulations (Rule 7).

The lights for tugs under one hundred tons register (net), whose principal business is harbor towing, and for boats navigating only on the River Saint Lawrence, also ferryboats, rafts, and canal boats, shall be regulated by rules which have been or may hereafter be prescribed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 646; May 17, 1928, ch. 601, §§ 1, 2, 45 Stat. 593; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101-104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F. R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097.)

AMENDMENTS

1928-Act May 17, 1928, substituted "one hundred tons register (net)," for "thirty tons register".

CHANGE OF NAME

"Commandant of the Coast Guard" was substituted for "Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels" on authority of 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3 set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

REPEALS

Section 2 of act May 17, 1928, repealed all inconsistent laws or parts of laws.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

The Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Transportation and all functions, powers, and duties, relating to the Coast Guard, of the Secretary of the Treasury and of other offices and officers of the Department of the Treasury were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89-670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 931, which created the Department of Transportation. See section 1655(b) of Title 49, Transportation.

performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 26, § § 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F. R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Such Plan excepted, from the transfer, the functions of the Coast Guard, and of the Commandant thereof, when the Coast Guard is operating as a part of the Navy under sections 1 and 3 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers, and inland waters generally, see section 178 (d) of this title. Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 316 (b) of this title.

§ 257. Lights of small vessels under way in bad weather (Rule 8).

Whenever, as in the case of small vessels under way during bad weather, the green and red side lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept at hand lighted and ready for use, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side, nor, if practicable, more than two points abaft the beam on their respective sides. To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the color of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 646.) CROSS REFERENCES

Similar rules

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1066 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland water generally, see section 175 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 318 of this title.

§ 258. Lights of vessel at anchor (Rule 9).

A vessel under one hundred and fifty feet register length, when at anchor, shall carry forward, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light constructed so as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least one mile: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation may, after investigation, by rule, regulation, or order designate such areas as he may deem proper as "special anchorage areas"; such special anchorage areas my 1 from time to time be changed, or abolished, if after investigation the Secretary of Transportation shall deem such change or abolition in the interest of navigation: Provided further, That vessels not more than sixty-five feet in length, when at anchor, in any such special anchorage area shall not be required to carry or exhibit the white light required by this section.

A vessel of one hundred and fifty feet or upward in register length, when at anchor, shall carry in the forward part of the vessel, two white lights at the same height of not less than twenty and not exceeding forty feet above the hull and not less than ten feet apart horizontally and athwartships, except that each need not be visible all around the horizon but so arranged that one or the other, or both, shall show

1 So in original. Probably should read "may".

a clear, uniform, and unbroken light and be visible from any angle of approach at a distance of at least one mile; and at or near the stern of the vessel two similar lights, similarly arranged and at such a height that they shall not be less than fifteen feet lower than the forward lights. In addition the four anchor lights above specified, at least one white deck light shall be displayed in every interval of one hundred feet along the deck measuring from the forward lights, said deck lights to be not less than two feet above the deck and arranged, so far as intervening structures will permit, so as to be visible from any angle of approach. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 647; May 17, 1928, ch. 600, 45 Stat. 592; Apr. 22, 1940, ch. 128, § 2, 54 Stat. 150.)

CODIFICATION

The Department of War was designated the Department of the Army and the title of the Secretary of War was changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205 (a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, Title II, 61 Stat. 501. Section 205 (a) of act July 26, 1947, was repealed by section 53 of act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 641. Section 1 of act Aug. 10, 1956, enacted "Title 10, Armed Forces", which in sections 3011-3013 continued the military Department of the Army under the administrative supervision of a Secretary of the Army.

AMENDMENTS

1940-Act Apr. 22, 1940, added provisos relating to designation and change or abolition of special anchorage areas and exempting certain vessels when anchored in such areas from displaying an anchor light.

1928-Act May 17, 1928, omitted reference to a lantern in first paragraph, and in second paragraph, substituted requirements for two white lights forward and at the stern arranged at specified heights and positions instead of only one white light forward and at the stern, and added requirement for arrangement of deck lights.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

Secretary of Transportation was substituted for Secretary of the Army pursuant to Pub. L. 89-670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 931, which created the Department of Transportation and transferred all functions, powers, and duties of the Secretary of the Army and other offices and officers of the Department of the Army relating generally to water vessel anchorages under this section to the Secretary of Transportation. See section 1655 (g) (1) (C) of Title 49, Transportation.

CROSS REFERENCES

Establishment, regulation, and marking of anchorage grounds, see sections 471 and 472 of this title. Similar rules

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1071 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland water generally, see section 180 of this title. Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 322 of this title.

§ 259. Lights of produce boats, canal boats, etc., navigating by hand or horsepower or by sail or by current, or at anchor (Rule 10).

Produce boats, canal boats, fishing boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating any bay, harbor, or river by hand power, horsepower, sail, or by the current of the river, or which shall be anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river, and not otherwise provided for in these rules, shall carry one or more good white lights, which shall be placed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Commandant of the Coast

So in original. Probably should read "In addition to"

Guard. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 647; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101-104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F. R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097.)

CHANGE OF NAME

"Commandant of the Coast Guard" was substituted for "Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels" on authority of 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

All functions of all officers of the Department of the Treasury, and all functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, were transferred, with certain exceptions, to the Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or the performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 26, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F. R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Such Plan excepted, from the transfer, the functions of the Coast Guard, and of the Commandant thereof, when the Coast Guard is operating as a part of the Navy under sections 1 and 3 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland water generally, see section 178 (b) of this title. Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see sections 316 (b) and 321 of this title.

§ 260. Lights of open boat (Rule 11).

Open boats shall not be obliged to carry the side lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on one side and a red slide on the other side; and on the approach of or to other vessels, such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, and in such a manner that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. Open boats, when at anchor or stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light. They shall not, however, be prevented from using a flare-up in addition if considered expedient. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 647.)

§ 262. Suspension of lights by vessel of war or Coast Guard vessels (Rule 13).

The exhibition of any light on board of a vessel of war or Coast Guard vessel of the United States may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the commander in chief of a squadron, or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 647; Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §§ 1, 20, 63 Stat. 496, 561.)

AMENDMENTS

1949-Act Aug. 4, 1949, reestablished the Coast Guard and repealed act Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, § 1, 38 Stat. 800. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1949 AMENDMENT Amendment of section by act Aug. 4, 1949, effective the first day of the third month after the month of approval, August 1949, see note set out preceding chapter 1 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

All functions of all officers of the Department of the Treasury, and all functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, were transferred, with certain exceptions, to the Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or the performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 26, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F. R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Such Plan excepted, from the transfer, the functions of the Coast Guard, and of the Commandant thereof, when the Coast Guard is operating as a part of the Navy under sections 1 and 3 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

CROSS REFERENCES

Exemption of certain Navy and Coast Guard vessels from navigation rules concerning lights, see sections 360, 360a, and 1052 of this title.

Similar rules

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 222 of this title. Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 323 of this title.

SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG, ETC.; SPEED

CROSS REFERENCES Sounding signal devices on motorboats, see sections 526c and 526d of Title 46, Shipping.

§ 271. Sound signals in fog, etc., of steam and sailing vessels under way, at anchor or aground (Rule 14). A steam vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle, sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam, placed before the funnel not less than eight feet from the deck, or in such other place as the Coast Guard shall determine, and of such character as to be heard in ordinary weather at a distance of at least two miles, and with an efficient bell, and it is made the duty of the United States Coast Guard when inspecting the same to require each steamer to be furnished with such whistle and bell. A sailing vessel shall be provided with an efficient fog horn and with an efficient bell.

Whenever there is thick weather by reason of fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, or other causes, whether by day or by night, fog signals shall be used as follows:

(a) A steam vessel under way, excepting only a steam vessel with raft in tow, shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute three distinct blasts of her whistle.

(b) Every vessel in tow of another vessel shall, at intervals of one minute, sound four bells on a good and efficient and properly placed bell as follows: By striking the bell twice in quick succession, followed by a little longer interval, and then again striking twice in quick succession (in the manner in which four bells is struck in indicating time).

(c) A steamer with a raft in tow shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute a screeching or Modoc whistle for from three to five seconds.

(d) A sailing vessel under way and not in tow shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute

If on the starboard tack with wind forward of abeam, one blast of her fog horn;

If on the port tack with wind forward of the beam, two blasts of her fog horn;

If she has the wind abaft the beam on either side, three blasts of her fog horn.

(e) A vessel at anchor and a vessel aground in or near a channel or fairway shall at intervals of not more than two minutes ring the bell rapidly for from three to five seconds and, in addition, at intervals of not more than three minutes shall sound on the whistle or horn a signal of one short blast, two long blasts, and one short blast in quick succession.

(f) Vessels of less than ten tons registered tonnage, not being steam vessels, shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals, but if they do not they shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than one minute.

(g) Produce boats, fishing boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating by hand power or by the current of the river, or anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway and not in any port, and not otherwise provided for in these rules, shall sound a fog horn or equivalent signal, at intervals of not more than one minute. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 647: 1946 Reorg. Plan No. III, §§ 101104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F. R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; Mar. 18, 1948, ch. 138, § 4, 62 Stat. 82.)

AMENDMENTS

1948 Subd. (e). Act Mar. 18, 1948, added provision requiring sounding of whistle or horn.

CHANGE OF NAME

References to local inspectors of steam vessels were changed to the Coast Guard on authority of 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

vested in him to authorize their performance or the performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 26, §§ 1. 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F. R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Such Plan excepted, from the transfer, the functions of the Coast Guard, and of the Commandant thereof, when the Coast Guard is operating as a part of the Navy under sections 1 and 3 of Title 14, Coast Guard. CROSS REFERENCES

Similar rules

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1076 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 191 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 331 of this title.

§ 272. Speed in fog, etc. (Rule 15).

Every vessel shall, in thick weather, by reason of fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rain storms, or other causes, go at moderate speed. A steam vessel hearing, apparently not more than four points from right ahead, the fog signal of another vessel shall at once reduce her speed to bare steerageway, and navigate with caution until the vessels shall have passed each other. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 648.)

STEERING AND SAILING RULES

§ 281. Sailing vessels approaching one another (Rule 16).

When two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision one of them shall keep out of the way of the other, as follows, namely:

(a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled.

(b) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled on the starboard tack.

(c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other. (d) When they are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 648.)

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1079 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 202 of this title. Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 342 of this title.

§ 282. Steam vessels meeting end on (Rule 17). When two steam vessels are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard, so that each shall pass on the port side of the other. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 648.)

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1081 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 204 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 344 of this title.

§ 284. Steam and sailing vessels meeting (Rule 19). When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision the steam vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel. This rule shall not give to a sailing vessel the right to hamper, in a narrow channel, the safe passage of a steam vessel which can navigate only inside that channel. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 648; Nov. 5, 1966, Pub. L. 89-764, § 3, 80 Stat. 1313.)

approaching her, if necessary, slacken her speed or stop or reverse. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 649.) CROSS REFERENCES

Similar rules

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1085 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 208 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 346 of this title.

§ 287. Overtaking vessel to keep out of the way (Rule 22).

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 649.)

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1086 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 209 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 347 (a) of this title.

§ 288. Whistle signals of steam vessels to indicate course (Rule 23).

In all weathers every steam vessel under way in taking any course authorized or required by these rules shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle, to be accompanied whenever required by corresponding alteration of her helm; and every steam vessel receiving a signal from another shall promptly respond with the same signal or, as provided in section 291 of this title:

One blast to mean, "I am directing my course to starboard."

Two blasts to mean, "I am directing my course to port." But the giving or answering signals by a vessel required to keep her course shall not vary the duties and obligations of the respective vessels. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 649.)

Similar rules

CROSS REFERENCES

International rules for navigation at sea, see section 1090 of this title.

Navigation rules for harbors, rivers and inland waters generally, see section 203 of this title.

Navigation rules for Red River of the North and rivers emptying into Gulf of Mexico and tributaries, see section 343 of this title.

§ 289. Steam vessels meeting in narrow channels having current and certain rivers; right-of-way (Rule 24).

In all narrow channels where there is a current, and in the rivers Saint Mary, Saint Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and Saint Lawrence, when two steamers are meeting, the descending steamer shall have the right-of-way, and shall, before the vessels shall have arrived within the distance of one-half mile of each other, give the signal necessary to indicate which side she elects to take.

In all narrow channels a steam vessel of less than sixty-five feet in length shall not hamper the safe passage of a vessel which can navigate only inside that channel. (Feb. 8, 1895, ch. 64, § 1, 28 Stat. 649; Nov. 5, 1966, Pub. L. 89-764, § 4, 80 Stat. 1313.)

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