[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: 33CFR161.23]

[Page 570-571]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
    CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 161--VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart B--Vessel Movement Reporting System
 
Sec. 161.23  Reporting exemptions.

    (a) Unless otherwise directed, the following vessels are exempted 
from providing Position and Final Reports due to the nature of their 
operation:
    (1) Vessels on a published schedule and route;
    (2) Vessels operating within an area of a radius of three nautical 
miles or less; or
    (3) Vessels escorting another vessel or assisting another vessel in 
maneuvering procedures.
    (b) A vessel described in paragraph (a) of this section must:
    (1) Provide a Sailing Plan at least 5 minutes but not more than 15 
minutes before navigating within the VTS area; and
    (2) If it departs from its promulgated schedule by more than 15 
minutes or changes its limited operating area, make the established VMRS 
reports, or report as directed.
    (c) In those VTS areas capable of receiving automated position 
reports from Automatic Identification System Shipborne Equipment (AISSE) 
as required by Sec. 164.43 of this chapter and where AISSE is required, 
vessels equipped with an operating AISSE are not required to make voice 
radio position reports at designated reporting points as required by 
Sec. 161.20(b) of this part, unless otherwise directed by the VTC.
    (1) Whenever an AISSE becomes non-operational as defined in 
Sec. 164.43(c) of

[[Page 571]]

this chapter, before entering or while underway in a VTS area, a vessel 
must:
    (i) Notify the VTC;
    (ii) Make voice radio position reports at designated reporting 
points as required by Sec. 161.20(b) of this part;
    (iii) Make other voice radio reports as directed; and
    (iv) Restore the AISSE to operating condition as soon as possible.
    (2) Whenever an AISSE becomes non-operational due to a loss of 
position correction information (i.e., the U.S. Coast Guard differential 
global positioning system (dGPS) cannot provide the required error 
correction messages) a vessel must:
    (i) Make required voice radio position reports at designated 
reporting points required by Sec. 161.20(b) of this part; and
    (ii) Make other voice radio reports as directed.
    Note: Regulations pertaining to AISSE required capabilities are set 
forth in Sec. 164.43 of this chapter.

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 97-023, 62 FR 
33364, June 19, 1997]