Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 77.djvu/226

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PUBLIC LAW 88-131-SEPT. 24, 1963

[77 STAT.

Public Law 88-131 September 24, 1963

[H. R. 6012] Collisions at sea, prevention. Proclamation authorization.

Publication in F. R.

Lights displayed by v e s s e l s, exemptions.

Publication in F. R.

33 USC 143147d.

AN ACT

TQ authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing collisions at sea. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized to proclaim the regulations set forth in section 4 of this Act for preventing collisions involving waterborne craft upon the hi,gh seas, and in all waters connected therewith. The effective date of such proclamation shall be not earlier than the date fixed by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization for application of such regulations by Governments which have agreed to accept them. Such proclamation, together with the regulations, shall be published in the Federal Eegister and after the effective date specified m such proclamation such regulations shall have effect as if enacted by statute and shall be followed by all public and private vessels of the United States and by all aircraft of United States registry to the extent therein made applicable. Such regulations shall not apply to the harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States; to the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the Saint Lambert Lock at Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada; to the Eed Eiver of the North and the rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries; nor with respect to aircraft in any territorial waters of the United States. SEC. 2. Any requirement of such regulations in respect of the number, position, range of visibility, or arc of visibility of the lights required to be displayed by vessels shall not apply to any vessel of the Navy or of the Coast Guard whenever the Secretary of the Navy or the Secretary of the Treasury, in the case of Coast Guard vessels operating under the Treasury Department, or such official as either may designate, shall find or certify that, by reason of special construction, it is not possible for such vessel or class of vessels to comply with such regulations. The lights of any such exempted vessel or class of vessels, however, shall conform as closely to the requirements of the applicable regulations as the Secretary or such official shall find or certify to be feasible. Notice of such findings or certification and of the character and position of the lights prescribed to be displayed on such exempted vessel or class of vessels shall be published in the Federal Register and in the Notice to Mariners and, after the effective date specified in such notice, shall have effect as part of such regulations. SEC. 3. On the date the regulations authorized to be proclaimed under section 1 hereof take effect, the Act of October 11, 1951 (65 Stat. 406), is repealed and the regulations proclaimed thereunder shall be of no further force or effect. Until such date, nothing herein shall in any way limit, supersede, or repeal any regulations for the prevention of collisions which have heretofore been prescribed by statute, regulation, or rule. Any reference in any other law to the Act of October 11, 1961 (65 Stat. 406), or the r e f l a t i o n s proclaimed thereunder, shall be deemed a reference to this Act and the regulations proclaimed hereunder.

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