fected by the speed of vessels in the river, including the protection of the property of riparian owners. The regulations issued by the Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District are published in the FEDERAL REGISTER and in the Notice to Mariners.

(Sec. 6(b), 80 Stat. 937; 49 U.S.C. 1655(b); 49 CFR 1.46(b))

[CGD 72-96R, 37 FR 23540, Nov. 4, 1972; CGD 72-96CR, 38 FR 1587, Jan. 16, 1973, as amended by CGD 72-96RC, 38 FR 2687, Jan. 29, 1973]

§ 92.55 Speed limit approaching St. Mary's Falls Canal.

Vessels approaching the St. Mary's Falls Canal shall at all times reduce speed to the extent of being under full control with ability to maneuver in accordance with the instructions of the officers in charge of the St. Mary's Falls Canal before entering the canal.

§ 92.57 Pipe Island passages.

Vessels of 500 gross tons or over shall leave Pipe Island Shoal and Pipe Island on the port hand in passing them, except that an upbound vessel which will stop at one of the Detour Coal Wharves above Watson Reefs may pass to the westward of the shoal and island.

[CGFR 53-7, 18 FR 1265, Mar. 6, 1953] § 92.59 Directional Neebish Channels.

When both the Middle Neebish Channel and the West Neebish Channel are available to traffic, vessels of 100 gross tons or over shall pass upbound through Middle Neebish Channel and downbound through West Neebish Channel. Vessels over the prescribed tonnage making regular local stops in either of those channels may run counter to the general traffic direction only on written permit issued by the captain of the port, for such term and under such conditions of renewal or revocation as he may prescribe. A vessel thus running counter to the general traffic shall keep off the channel range when an approaching vessel is on or entering that range. § 92.61 Passing and approach in channels. (a) In a channel where the speed is restricted to 12 miles an hour or less,

no vessel of 500 gross tons or over shall approach nearer than one-quarter of a mile to a vessel bound in the same direction, nor pass such a vessel except between Little Rapids Cut Lighted Buoy No. 105 and the St. Mary's Falls Canal, and for upbound vessels, only between Vidal Shoal and Big Point or except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and § 92.63.

(b) In order to facilitate passing in Lake Nicolet, upbound vessels may, after passing Lake Nicolet Lighted Buoy No. 68 off Shingle Bay, approach not nearer than 500 feet to a vessel bound in the same direction.

[CGFR 62-4, 27 FR 3201, Apr. 4, 1962]

§ 92.63 Vessel passing towing tug going in same direction.

A vessel at normal speed coming up on a tug towing a dredge or scow bound in the same direction as the overtaking vessel in a restricted channel may pass such tow, after the prescribed exchange of signals. Under such circumstances the tug shall not increase speed during the passing, and shall haul with its tow to the proper side of the channel to allow passing room.

§ 92.65 Vessels going in the same direction; when passing prohibited.

No vessel shall pass or attempt to pass another vessel bound in the same direction, when such passing would bring more than two vessels abreast in any of the passages between Lake Munuscong Junction Lighted Bell Buoy in Upper Lake Munuscong and Big Point in the upper St. Mary's River, except that such passing is permitted between Little Rapids Cut Lighted Buoy No. 105 and the St. Mary's Falls Canal.

[CGFR 62-25, 27 FR 8733, Aug. 31, 1962]

awaiting supply boats, shall haul clear of the ranges and permit unobstructed passage to other vessels.

(b) On the connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Point Iroquois, upper St. Mary's River and Frying Pan Island, lower St. Mary's River, the length of tow lines shall not exceed by more than 50 feet, the length of the scow, barge, vessel, or other craft being towed: Provided, That no scow, barge, vessel, or other craft shall be required to have a tow line less than 250 feet. The length of the tow line shall be measured from the stern of one vessel to the bow of the following vessel.

§ 92.69 Dropping of towed vessels.

Towed vessels shall not be dropped in any of the usual steering courses, but shall be hauled clear of the course before being left by the towing vessel.

§ 92.71 Speed through dredged channels.

The minimum speed at which any vessel or tow will be permitted to make regular passage through any dredged channel shall be 5 miles an hour over the ground; and any craft which cannot make this speed shall not enter any of the channels until the patrol has been communicated with, and directions received as to further procedure.

§ 92.73 Navigation of dredged channels by sail.

Vessels of 10 gross tons or over shall not navigate any dredged channel under sail power; and such vessel capable of propulsion by both machinery and sail shall not carry sail in any of the dredged channels.

§ 92.75 Obstruction of traffic; retarding other vessels.

No vessel shall maneuver so as to affect adversely the relative position of another vessel when entering any of the cuts, nor attempt to obstruct traffic, nor unnecessarily retard a following vessel, nor increase speed after having signalled permission to an overtaking vessel to pass.

§ 92.77 Rafts in channels.

No raft shall enter any of the dredged channels between Everens Point and the improved channel above Round Island without first having communicated with the patrol and obtained permission and directions as to route and procedure. So long as rafts are in any portion of the passages between the points named they shall be under the control of the patrol, and shall obey all instructions as to time and manner of movement or stoppage. They shall use the Lake George Channel when it will serve their passage toward destination.

§ 92.79

Reporting obstruction of channel. Any person having knowledge of an obstruction in the channel, or the loss of an anchor, or the grounding of a vessel in or out of the channel, or the striking of any obstruction, or any other hazard or danger to navigation, at any point in the St. Mary's River between Point Detour and Point Iroquois, shall report the same without delay to the Captain of the Port and also to the Corps of Engineers' Control Tower, St. Mary's Falls Canal. [CGFR 53-7, 18 FR 1265, Mar. 6, 1953]

93.14

93.15 93.16

Lights; time for. Ferryboats.

Lights for barges, canal boats, scows and other nondescript vessels on certain inland waters on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

93.16a Lights for barges, canal boats, scows

and other nondescript vessels on certain inland waters on the Gulf Coast and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. 93.16b Lights for barges, canal boats, scows, and other nondescript vessels temporarily operating on waters requiring different lights.

93.17 Lights for barges and canal boats in tow of steam vessels on the Hudson River and adjacent waters and Lake Champlain.

LIGHTS AND DAY SIGNALS FOR VESSELS, DREDGES OF ALL TYPES, AND VESSELS WORKING ON WRECKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS, ETC. 93.18 Signals to be displayed by a towing vessel when towing a submerged or partly submerged object upon a hawser when no signals can be displayed upon the object which is towed.

Sec. 93.19 Steam vessels, derrick boats, lighters, or other types of vessels made fast alongside a wreck, or moored over a wreck which is on the bottom or partly submerged, or which may be drifting. 93.20 Dredges held in stationary position by moorings or spuds.

93.21 Dredges under way and engaged in dredging operations.

93.22 Vessels moored or anchored and engaged in laying cables or pipe, submarine construction, excavation, mat sinking, bank grading, dike construction, revetment, or other bank protection operations.

93.23 Lights to be displayed on pipelines attached to dredges.

93.23a Lights to be displayed on pipelines disengaged from dredges.

93.24 Lights generally.

93.25 Vessels moored or at anchor.

PASSING FLOATING PLANT WORKING IN
NAVIGABLE CHANNELS

93.26 Passing signals.

93.27 Speed of vessels passing floating plant working in channels.

93.28 Light-draft vessels passing floating plant.

93.29 Aids to navigation marking floatingplant moorings.

93.30 Obstruction of channel by floating plant.

93.31 Clearing of channels.

93.31a Protection of marks placed for the guidance of floating plant.

Sec.

93.40 Exceptions to the statutory and regulatory requirements for lights, day signals, or other navigational means and appliances when operating under bridges.

93.45 Distinctive blue light authorized for use by law enforcement vessels.

AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 180, 30 Stat. 98; 49 CFR 1.46(c)(2); 28 Stat. 647, 33 U.S.C. 258; 49 CFR 1.46(c)(3); sec. 4233 R.S., 33 U.S.C. 322.

GENERAL

SOURCE: Sections 93.01 to 93.3, contained in Pilot rules for certain inland waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, Mar. 16, 1938, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 13 FR 7303, Nov. 30, 1948 and further redesignated by CGD 81-017, 46 FR 28154, May 26, 1981.

§ 93.01 General instructions.

The regulations in this part apply to vessels navigating the harbors, rivers, and inland waters of the United States except the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal, the Red River of the North, the Mississippi River and its tributaries above Huey P. Long Bridge, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Plaquemine-Morgan City alternate water

way.

[CGFR 54-54, 19 FR 8038, Dec. 7, 1954. Redesignated by CGD 81-017, 46 FR 28154, May 26, 1981]

§ 93.02 Definition of steam vessel and vessel under way; risk of collision.

In the rules in this part the words "steam vessel" shall include any vessel propelled by machinery. A vessel is under way, within the meaning of the rules in this part, when she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground. Risk of collision can, when circumstances permit, be ascertained by carefully watching the compass bearing of approaching vessel. If the bearing does not appreciably change, such risk should be deemed to exist.

§ 93.03 Signals.

(a) The whistle signals provided in the rules in this part shall be sounded on an efficient whistle or siren sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam.

(1) A short blast of the whistle shall mean a blast of about one second's duration.

(2) A prolonged blast of the whistle shall mean a blast of from 4 to 6 seconds' duration.

(3) One short blast of the whistle signifies intention to direct course to own starboard, except when two steam vessels are approaching each other at right angles or obliquely, when it signifies intention of steam vessel which is to starboard of the other to hold course and speed.

(4) Two short blasts of the whistle signify intention to direct course to own port.

(5) Three short blasts of the whistle shall mean, "My engines are going at full speed astern."

(b) When vessels are in sight of one another a steam vessel under way whose engines are going at full speed astern shall indicate that fact by three short blasts on the whistle.

[Pilot rules for certain inland waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, Mar. 16, 1938. Redesignated at 13 FR 7303, Nov. 30, 1948 and amended by CGFR 64-14, 30 FR 6433. May 8, 1965 and further redesignated by CGD 81-017, 46 FR 28154, May 26, 1981]

§ 93.04 Demarcation lines between "Rules of the Road-Inland Waters" and "Rules of the Road-Western Rivers." The demarcation lines between the "Rules of the Road-Inland Waters" and the "Rules of the Road-Western Rivers" are as follows:

(a) At the juncture of the Atchafalaya River and Port Allen to Morgan City Alternate Waterway, a line drawn through the light structure at mile 2.25 Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route perpendicular to the mainstream of the river.

(b) At the juncture of the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Waterway and Port Allen-Morgan City Landside Route, a line drawn across the Landside Route following the contour of the East Bank of the Morgan CityPort Allen Alternate Route.

[CGD 76-129, 44 FR 22456, Apr. 16, 1979. Redesignated by CGD 81-017, 46 FR 28154, May 26, 1981]

§ 93.1 Danger signal.

If, when steam vessels are approaching each other, either vessel fails to understand the course or intention of the other, from any cause, the vessel so in doubt shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts, not less than four, of the steam whistle, the danger signal.

§ 93.2 Cross signals.

Steam vessels are forbidden to use what has become technically known among pilots as "cross signals", that is, answering one whistle with two, and answering two whistles with one.

§ 93.3 Vessels passing each other.

(a) The signals for passing, by the blowing of the whistle, shall be given and answered by pilots, in compliance with the rules in this part, not only when meeting "head and head", or nearly so, but at all times when the steam vessels are in sight of each other, when passing or meeting at a distance within half a mile of each other, and whether passing to the starboard or port.

(b) The whistle signals provided in the rules in this part for steam vessels meeting, passing, or overtaking are never to be used except when steam vessels are in sight of each other, and the course and position of each can be determined in the daytime by a sight of the vessel itself, or by night by seeing its signal lights. In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rainstorms, when vessels can not so see each other, fog signals only must be given.

one short and distinct blast of her whistle, which the other vessel shall answer promptly by a similar blast of her whistle, and thereupon such vessels shall pass on the port side of each other. But if the courses of such vessels are so far on the starboard of each other as not to be considered as meeting head and head, either vessel shall immediately give two short and distinct blasts of her whistle, which the other vessel shall answer promptly by two similar blasts of her whistle, and they shall pass on the starboard side of each other.

(b) The foregoing only applies to cases where vessels are meeting end on or nearly end on, in such a manner as to involve risk of collision; in other words, to cases in which, by day, each vessel sees the masts of the other in a line, or nearly in a line, with her own, and by night to cases in which each vessel is in such a position as to see both the side lights of the other.

(c) It does not apply by day to cases in which a vessel sees another ahead crossing her own course, or by night to cases where the red light of one vessel is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green light of one vessel is opposed to the green light of the other, or where a red light without a green light or a green light without a red light is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but ahead.

§ 93.5 Vessels nearing bend or curve in channel; moving from docks.

(a) Whenever a steam vessel is nearing a short bend or curve in the channel, where, from the height of the banks or other cause, a steam vessel approaching from the opposite direction can not be seen for a distance of half a mile, such steam vessel, when she shall have arrived within half a mile of such curve or bend, shall give a signal by one long blast of the steam whistle, which signal shall be answered by a simlar blast, given by any approaching steam vessel that may be within hearing. Should such signal be so answered by a steam vessel upon the farther side of such bend, then the usual signals for meeting and passing shall immediately be given and an