§2001. Application (Rule 1)

(a) United States inland waters and Canadian waters of the Great Lakes

These Rules apply to all vessels upon the inland waters of the 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.

(b) International Regulations

(i) These Rules constitute special rules made by an appropriate authority within the meaning of Rule 1(b) of the International Regulations.

(ii) All vessels complying with the construction and equipment requirements of the International Regulations are considered to be in compliance with these Rules.

(c) Special rules

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

Traffic separation schemes may be established for the purpose of these Rules. Vessel traffic service regulations may be in effect in certain areas.

(e) Alternative compliance

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, 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 compliance for a vessel or class of vessels specifying the closest possible compliance with these Rules. The Secretary of the Navy shall make these determinations and issue certificates of alternative compliance for vessels of the Navy.

(f) Acceptance of certificates of alternative compliance from contracting parties to International Regulations

The Secretary may accept a certificate of alternative compliance issued by a contracting party to the International Regulations if he determines that the alternative compliance standards of the contracting party are substantially the same as those of the United States.

( Pub. L. 96–591, §2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3415 ; Pub. L. 102–241, §21(1), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2217 ; Pub. L. 102–587, title V, §5206[(1)], Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5074 .)

References in Text

These Rules, referred to in pars. (a), (b), (c), and (e), are the Inland Navigational Rules which are classified to this subchapter.

The International Regulations, referred to in pars. (b) and (f), are the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972. See International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, set out as a note under section 1602 of this title.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of section 2 of Pub. L. 96–591 which enacted the Inland Navigational Rules which comprise this subchapter.

Amendments

1992-Par. (d). Pub. L. 102–587 amended par. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (d) read as follows: "Vessel traffic service regulations may be in effect in certain areas."

1991-Par. (e). Pub. L. 102–241 struck out "without interfering with the special function of the vessel," before "the vessel shall comply".

Effective Date

Section 7 of Pub. L. 96–591 provided that: "Sections 2, 4, 6(1), and 8(a) [enacting this section and sections 2002 to 2038 and 2072 of this title, amending section 1604 of this title, and repealing sections 154 to 159, 171 to 183, 191, 192, 201 to 213, 221, 222, 231, 232, 301 to 303, 311 to 323, 331, 341–356, 360, and 360a of this title and sections 526b, 526c, and 526d of former Title 46, Shipping] are effective 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 24, 1980], except that on the Great Lakes, the effective date of sections 2 and 4 [enacting this section and sections 2002 to 2038 and 2072 of this title] will be established by the Secretary. [The effective date on the Great Lakes was established as Mar. 1, 1983. See 47 F.R. 15135, Apr. 8, 1982.] Section 5 [enacting section 2073 of this title] is effective on October 1, 1981."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 96–591 provided: "That this Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 151, 1604, 1605, and 1608 of this title, repealing sections 154 to 159, 171 to 183, 191, 192, 201 to 213, 221, 222, 231, 232, 241 to 244, 251 to 262, 271, 272, 281 to 295, 301 to 303, 311 to 323, 331, 341 to 356, 360, and 360a of this title and sections 526b, 526c, and 526d of former Title 46, Shipping, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the 'Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980'."

Repeal of Predecessor Provisions; Savings Provisions

Section 8(a) of Pub. L. 96–591 provided in part that: "The laws specified in the following schedules are repealed. Any prior rights or liabilities existing under these laws are not affected by their repeal." [The schedules repealed sections 154 to 159, 171 to 183, 191, 192, 201 to 213, 221, 222, 231, 232, 301 to 303, 311 to 323, 331, 341 to 356, 360, and 360a of this title and sections 526b, 526c, and 526d of former Title 46, Shipping.]

Section 8(b) of Pub. L. 96–591 provided in part that: "The following laws [sections 241 to 244, 251 to 262, 271, 272, and 281 to 295 of this title] are repealed when the Secretary establishes an effective date under section 7 [set out as a note above]."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 2072 of this title.