[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR162.117]
[Page 581-582]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
PART 162--INLAND WATERWAYS NAVIGATION REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
Sec. 162.117 St. Marys River, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
(a) The area. The waters of the St. Marys River and lower Whitefish
Bay from 4557[min] N. (De Tour Reef Light) to the south, to
4638.7[min] N. (Ile Parisienne Light) to the north, except the
waters of the St. Marys Falls Canal, and to the east along a line from
La Pointe to Sims Point, within Potagannissing Bay and Worsley Bay.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section:
Two-way route means a directional route within defined limits inside
which two-way traffic is established, and which is intended to improve
safety in waters where navigation is difficult.
Two-way traffic means that traffic flow is permitted in opposing
directions, but a vessel may not meet, cross, nor overtake any other
vessel in such a manner that it would be abreast of more than one other
vessel within the defined limits of a waterway.
(c) Anchoring Rules.
(1) A vessel must not anchor:
(i) within the waters between Brush Point and the waterworks intake
crib off Big Point southward of the Point Aux Pins range; or
(ii) within 0.2 nautical miles of the intake crib off Big Point.
(2) In an emergency, vessels may anchor in a dredged channel.
Vessels shall anchor as near to the edge of the channel as possible and
shall get underway as soon as the emergency ceases, unless otherwise
directed. Vessel Traffic Services St. Marys River must be advised of any
emergency anchoring as soon as is practicable.
(3) Vessels collected in any part of the VTS Area by reason of
temporary closure of a channel or an impediment to navigation shall get
underway and depart in the order in which they arrived, unless otherwise
directed by Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River. Vessel Traffic
Service St. Marys River may advance any vessel in the order of departure
to expedite the movement of mails, passengers, cargo of a perishable
nature, to facilitate passage of vessels through any channel by reason
of special circumstance, or to facilitate passage through the St. Marys
Falls Canal.
(d) Traffic Rules. (1) A vessel must proceed only in the established
direction of traffic flow in the following waters:
(i) West Neebish Channel from Buoy ``53'' to Buoy ``1''--downbound
traffic only;
(ii) Pipe Island Course from Sweets Point to Watson Reefs Light-
downbound traffic only.
(iii) Middle Neebish Channel from Buoy ``2'' to Buoy ``76''--upbound
traffic only; and
(iv) Pipe Island Passage to the east of Pipe Island Shoal and north
of Pipe Island Twins from Watson Reefs Light to Sweets Point--upbound
traffic only.
(2) A vessel 350 feet or more in length must not overtake or
approach within .2 nautical miles of another vessel proceeding in the
same direction in the following waterways:
(i) West Neebish Channel between Nine Mile Point and Munuscong Lake
Junction Lighted Bell Buoy;
(ii) Middle Neebish Channel between Munuscong Lake Junction Lighted
Bell Buoy and Nine Mile Point; and
(iii) Little Rapids Cut from Six Mile Point to Buoy ``102''.
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(3) When two-way traffic is authorized in Middle Neebish Channel, a
vessel 350 feet or more in length must not meet, cross, or overtake
another vessel at:
(i) Johnson Point from Buoy ``18'' to Buoy ``22'';
(ii) Mirre Point from Buoy ``26'' to Buoy ``28''; or
(iii) Stribling Point from Buoy ``39'' to Buoy ``43''.
(4) Paragraph (d)(2) of this section does not apply to a vessel
navigating through an ice field.
(e) Winter Navigation. During the winter navigation season, the
following waterways are normally closed:
(1) West Neebish Channel, from Buoy ``53' to Buoy ``1'';
(2) Pipe Island Passage to the east of Pipe Island Shoal; and
(3) North of Pipe Island Twins, from Watson Reef Light to Sweets
Point.
(f) Alternate Winter Navigation Routes. (1) When West Neebish
Channel is closed, Middle Neebish Channel (from Buoy ``2'' to Buoy
``76'') will be open either as a two-way route or an alternating one way
traffic lane.
(i) When Middle Neebish Channel is a two-way route:
(A) An upbound vessel must use the easterly 197 feet of the channel.
However, a vessel of draft 20 feet or more must not proceed prior to
Vessel Traffic Center approval; and
(B) A downbound vessel must use the westerly 295 feet of the
channel.
(ii) When Middle Neebish Channel is an alternating one-way traffic
lane. A vessel must use the westerly 295 feet of the channel in the
established direction of traffic flow.
(2) When Pipe Island Passage is closed, Pipe Island Course is a two-
way route.
Note: The Vessel Traffic Service closes or opens these channels as
ice conditions require after giving due consideration to the protection
of the marine environment, waterway improvements, aids to navigation,
the need for cross channel traffic (e.g., ferries), the availability of
icebreakers, and the safety of the island residents who, in the course
of their daily business, must use naturally formed ice bridges for
transportation to and from the mainland. Under normal seasonal
conditions, only one closing each winter and one opening each spring are
anticipated. Prior to closing or opening these channels, interested
parties including both shipping entities and island residents, will be
given at least 72 hours notice by the Coast Guard.
(g) Speed Rules. (1) The following speed limits indicate speed over
the ground. Vessels must adhere to the following speed limits:
Table 162.117(g)--St. Marys River Speed Rules
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum speed limit between Mph Kts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
De Tour Reef Light and Sweets Point Light............. 14 12.2
Round Island Light and Point Aux Frenes Light ``21''.. 14 12.2
Munuscong Lake Lighted Buoy ``8'' and Everens Point... 12 10.4
Everens Point and Reed Point.......................... 9 7.8
Reed Point and Lake Nicolet Lighted Buoy ``62''....... 10 8.7
Lake Nicolet Lighted Buoy ``62'' and Lake Nicolet 12 10.4
Light ``80''.........................................
Lake Nicolet Light ``80'' and Winter Point (West 10 8.7
Neebish Channel).....................................
Lake Nicolet Light ``80'' and Six Mile Point Range 10 8.7
Rear Light...........................................
Six Mile Point Range Rear Light and lower limit of the
St. Marys Falls Canal
Upbound........................................... 8 7.0
Downbound......................................... 10 8.7
Upper limit of the St. Marys Falls Canal and Point Aux 12 10.4
Pins Main Light......................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: A vessel must not navigate any dredged channel at a speed of less
than 5 statute miles per hour (4.3 knots).
(2) Temporary speed limit regulations may be established by
Commanding Officer Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River. Notice of the
temporary speed limits and their effective dates and termination are
published in the Federal Register and Local Notice to Mariners. These
temporary speed limits, if imposed, will normally be placed in effect
and terminated during the winter navigation season.
(h) Towing Requirement. A towing vessel must: (1) Maintain positive
control of its tow south of Gros Cap Reef Light;
(2) Not impede the passage of any other vessel;
(3) Not tow a vessel of 200 feet or less in length with a tow line
longer than 250 feet; and
(4) Not tow a vessel of 200 feet or more in length with a tow line
longer than the length of the towed vessel plus 50 feet.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36333, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-033, 60 FR
28333, May 31, 1995; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 35532, June 30, 1998; USCG-
2003-15404, 68 FR 37741, June 25, 2003]
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