
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC2001]

 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
                  CHAPTER 34--INLAND NAVIGATIONAL RULES
 
                           SUBCHAPTER I--RULES
 
                             Part A--General
 
Sec. 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, Sec. 2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3415; Pub. L. 102-241, 
Sec. 21(1), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2217; Pub. L. 102-587, title V, 
Sec. 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.
