Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 3.djvu/771

 PUBLIC LAW 96-591—DEC. 24, 1980

94 STAT. 3415

Public Law 96-591 96th Congress An Act To unify the rules for preventing collisions on the inland waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

Uec. ^4, lt>oO [H.R. 6671]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be inland cited as the "Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980" R E A J? of 1980 SEC. 2. Inland Navigational Rules: 33 USC 2001 PART A—GENERAL

note.

RULE 1

Application (a) These Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the 33 USC 2001. United States, and to vessels of the United States on the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes to the extent that there is no conflict with Canadian law. 03)(i) These Rules constitute special rules made by an appropriate authority within the meaning of Rule 1(h) of the International Reflations. (ii) All vessels complying with the construction and equipment requirements of the International Regulations are considered to be in compliance with these Rules. • (c) Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Secretary of the Navy with respect to additional station or signal lights and shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or by the Secretary with respect to additional station or signal lights and shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights and shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape, or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules. Notice of such special rules shall be published in the Federal Register and, after the effective date specified in such notice, they shall have effect as if they were a part of these Rules. (d) Vessel traffic service regulations may be in effect in certain areas. (e) Whenever the Secretary determines that a vessel or class of vessels of special construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, without interfering with the special function of the vessel, the vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, as the Secretary shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules. The Secretary may issue a certificate of alternative

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