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33 U.S.C. 1201: Statement of purposeText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 33-NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERSCHAPTER 24-VESSEL BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE COMMUNICATION
Jump To: Source CreditStatutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesShort TitleEffective Date

§1201. Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter to provide a positive means whereby the operators of approaching vessels can communicate their intentions to one another through voice radio, located convenient to the operator’s navigation station. To effectively accomplish this, there is need for a specific frequency or frequencies dedicated to the exchange of navigational information, on navigable waters of the United States.

( Pub. L. 92–63, § 2 , Aug. 4, 1971 , 85 Stat. 164 .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 92–63, § 1, Aug. 4, 1971, 85 Stat. 164, provided:

“That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act’.”

Effective Date

Pub. L. 92–63, § 10, Aug. 4, 1971, 85 Stat. 165, provided that:

“This Act [enacting this chapter] shall become effective May 1, 1971, or six months after the promulgation of regulations which would implement its provisions, whichever is later.”