Section 33CFR161.12

[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR161.12]

[Page 565-568]

TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)

PART 161--VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents

Subpart A--Vessel Traffic Services

Sec. 161.12 Vessel operating requirements.

(a) Subject to the exigencies of safe navigation, a VTS User shall
comply with all measures established or directions issued by a VTS.
(1) If, in a specific circumstance, a VTS User is unable to safely
comply with a measure or direction issued by the VTS, the VTS User may
deviate only to the extent necessary to avoid endangering persons,
property or the environment. The deviation shall be reported to the VTS
as soon as is practicable.
(b) When not exchanging communications, a VTS User must maintain a
listening watch as required by Sec. 26.04(e) of this chapter on the VTS
frequency designated in Table 161.12(b) (VTS Call Signs, Designated
Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas). In addition, the VTS User must
respond promptly when hailed and communicate in the English language.
Note: As stated in 47 CFR 80.148(b), a VHF watch on Channel 16
(156.800 MHz) is not required on vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-
to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic
Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the vessel
bridge-to-bridge frequency and a designated VTS frequency.

[[Page 566]]

Table 161.12(b).--Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Call Signs, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas
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Vessel traffic services call Designated frequency¹ (channel
sign designation) Monitoring area
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New York ²
New York Traffic ³......... 156.550 MHz (Ch. 11) and........... The navigable waters of the Lower New York
156.700 MHz (Ch. 14)............... Harbor bounded on the east by a line
drawn from Norton Point to Breezy Point;
on the south by a line connecting the
entrance buoys at the Ambrose Channel,
Swash Channel and Sandy Hook Channel to
Sandy Hook Point; and on the southeast
including the waters of the Sandy Hook
Bay south to a line drawn at latitude 40
deg.25[min]N.; then west into waters of
the Raritan Bay to the Raritan River Rail
Road Bridge; and then north including the
waters of the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay
to the Lehigh Valley Draw Bridge at
latitude 40 deg.41.95[min]N.; and then
east including the waters of the Kill Van
Kull and Upper New York Bay north to a
line drawn east-west from the Holland
Tunnel Ventilator Shaft at latitude 40
deg.43.7[min]N.; longitude 74
deg.01.6[min]W. in the Hudson River; and
continuing east including the waters of
the East River to the Throgs Neck Bridge,
excluding the Harlem River.
156.600 MHz (Ch. 12)............... Each vessel at anchor within the above
areas.
Houston ² The navigable waters north of 29 deg.N.,
west of 94 deg.20[min]W., south of 29
deg.49[min]N., and east of 95
deg.20[min]W.
Houston Traffic............ 156.550 MHz (Ch. 11)............... The navigable waters north of a line
extending due west from the southern most
end of Exxon Dock 1 (29
deg.43.37[min]N., 95 deg.01.27[min]W.).
156.600 MHz (Ch. 12)............... The navigable waters south of a line
extending due west from the southern most
end of Exxon Dock 1 (29
deg.43.37[min]N., 95 deg.01.27[min]W.).
Berwick Bay
Berwick Traffic............ 156.550 MHz (Ch. 11)............... The navigable waters south of 29
deg.45[min]N., west of 91 deg.10[min]W.,
north of 29 deg.37[min]N., and east of 91
deg.18[min]W.
St. Marys River
Soo Control................ 156.600 MHz (Ch. 12)............... The navigable waters of the St. Marys
River between 45 deg.57[min]N. (De Tour
Reef Light) and 46 deg.38.7[min]N. (Ile
Parisienne Light), except the St. Marys
Falls Canal and those navigable waters
east of a line from 46 deg.04.16[min]N.
and 46 deg.01.57[min]N. (LaPointe to Sims
Point in Potagannissing Bay and Worsley
Bay).
San Francisco ²
San Francisco Offshore 156.600 MHz (Ch. 12)............... The waters within a 38 nautical mile
Vessel Movement. radius of Mount Tamalpais (37
deg.55.8[min]N., 122 deg.34.6[min]W.)
excluding the San Francisco Offshore
Precautionary Area.
Reporting Service San 156.700 MHz (Ch. 14)............... The waters of the San Francisco Offshore
Francisco Traffic. Precautionary Area eastward to San
Francisco Bay including its tributaries
extending to the ports of Stockton,
Sacramento and Redwood City.
Puget Sound ⁴
Seattle Traffic \5\........ 156.700 MHz (Ch.14)................ The navigable waters of Puget Sound, Hood
Canal and adjacent waters south of a line
connecting Nodule Point (48
deg.01.5[min]N 122 deg.40.05[min]W) and
Bush Point (48 deg.01.5[min]N 122
deg.36.23[min]W) in Admiralty Inlet and
south of a line drawn due east from the
southernmost tip of Possession Point (47
deg.34[min]N 122 deg.40[min]W) on Whidbey
Island to the shoreline.
156.250 MHz (Ch.5A)................ The navigable waters of the Strait of Juan
de Fuca east of 124 deg.40[min]W,
excluding the waters in the central
portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
north and east of Race Rocks (48
deg.18[min]N 123 deg.32[min]W); the
navigable waters of the Strait of Georgia
east of 122 deg.52[min]W; the San Juan
Island Archipelago, Rosario Strait,
Bellingham Bay; Admiralty of Juan de Fuca
north and east of Race Rocks (48
deg.18[min]N 123 deg.32[min]W); the
navigable waters of the Strait of Georgia
east of 122 deg.52[min]W; the San Juan
Island Archipelago, Rosario Strait,
Bellingham Bay; Admiralty Inlet north of
a line connecting Nodule Point (48
deg.01.5[min]N 122 deg.40.05[min]W) and
Bush Point (48 deg.01.5[min]N 122
deg.36.23[min]W) and all waters of
Whidbey Island north of a line drawn due
east from the southernmost tip of
Possession Point (47 deg.34[min]N 122
deg.40[min]W) on Whidbey Island to the
shoreline.

[[Page 567]]

Tofino Traffic ⁶........... 156.725 MHz (Ch. 74)............... The waters west of 124 deg.40[min]W.
within 50 nautical miles of the coast of
Vancouver Island including the waters
north of 48 deg.N., and east of 127
deg.W.
Vancouver Traffic.......... 156.550 MHz (Ch. 11)............... The navigable waters of the Strait of
Georgia west of 122 deg.52[min]W., the
navigable waters of the central Strait of
Juan de Fuca north and east of Race
Rocks, including the Gulf Island
Archipelago, Boundary Pass and Haro
Strait.
Prince William Sound ⁷
Valdez Traffic............. 156.650 MHz (Ch. 13)............... The navigable waters south of 61
deg.05[min]N., east of 147 deg.20[min]W.,
north of 60 deg.N., and west of 146
deg.30[min]W.; and, all navigable waters
in Port Valdez.
Louisville ⁷
Louisville Traffic......... 156.650 MHz (Ch. 13)............... The navigable waters of the Ohio River
between McAlpine Locks (Mile 606) and
Twelve Mile Island (Mile 593), only when
the McAlpine upper pool gauge is at
approximately 13.0 feet or above.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
\1\ In the event of a communication failure either by the vessel traffic center or the vessel or radio
congestion on a designated VTS frequency, communications may be established on an alternate VTS frequency. The
bridge-to-bridge navigational frequency, 156.650 MHz (Channel 13), is monitored in each VTS area; and it may
be used as an alternate frequency, however, only to the extent that doing so provides a level of safety beyond
that provided by other means.
² Designated frequency monitoring is required within U.S. navigable waters. In areas which are outside the U.S.
navigable waters, designated frequency monitoring is voluntary. However, prospective VTS Users are encouraged
to monitor the designated frequency.
³ VMRS participants shall make their initial report (Sail Plan) to New York Traffic on Channel 11 (156.550 MHz).
All other reports, including the Final Report, shall be made on Channel 14 (156.700 MHz). VMRS and other VTS
Users shall monitor Channel 14 (156.700 MHz) while transiting the VTS area. New York Traffic may direct a
vessel to monitor and report on either primary frequency depending on traffic density, weather conditions, or
other safety factors. This does not require a vessel to monitor both primary frequencies.
⁴ A Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service was established by the Untied States and Canada within adjoining waters.
The appropriate vessel traffic Center administers the rules issued by both nations; however, it will enforce
only its own set of rules within its jurisdiction.
⁵ Seattle traffic may direct a vessel to monitor the other primary VTS frequency 156.250 MHz or 156.700 MHz
(Channel 5A or 14) depending on traffic density, weather conditions, or other safety factors, rather than
strictly adhering to the designated frequency required for each monitoring area as defined above. This does
not require a vessel to monitor both primary frequencies.
⁶ A portion of Tofino Sector's monitoring area extends beyond the defined CVTS area. Designated frequency
monitoring is voluntary in these portions outside of VTS jurisdiction, however, prospective VTS Users are
encouraged to monitor the designated frequency.
⁷ The bridge-to-bridge navigational frequency, 156.650 MHz (Channel 13), is used in these VTSs because the level
of radiotelephone transmissions does not warrant a designated VTS frequency. The listening watch required by
26.05 of this chapter is not limited to the monitoring area.

[[Page 568]]

(c) As soon as is practicable, a VTS User shall notify the VTS of
any of the following:
(1) A marine casualty as defined in 46 CFR 4.05-1;
(2) Involvement in the ramming of a fixed or floating object;
(3) A pollution incident as defined in Sec. 151.15 of this chapter;
(4) A defect or discrepancy in an aid to navigation;
(5) A hazardous condition as defined in Sec. 160.203 of this
chapter;
(6) Improper operation of vessel equipment required by Part 164 of
this chapter;
(7) A situation involving hazardous materials for which a report is
required by 49 CFR 176.48; and
(8) A hazardous vessel operating condition as defined in Sec. 161.2.

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-033, 60 FR
28329, May 31, 1995; CGD 92-052, 61 FR 45326, Aug. 29, 1996; USCG-1999-
6141, 64 FR 69636, Dec. 14, 1999]