33 U.S.C. § 2001 : US Code - Section 2001: Application (Rule 1)

Search 33 U.S.C. § 2001 : US Code - Section 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.