[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 33, Volume 3]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 33CFR207.249]



[Page 51-53]

 

                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

 

 CHAPTER II--CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, DEPARTMENT OF 

                                 DEFENSE

 

PART 207_NAVIGATION REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

Sec.  207.249  Ouachita and Black Rivers, Ark. and La., Mile 0.0 



to Mile 338.0 (Camden, Ark.) above the mouth of the Black River; 

the Red River, La., Mile 6.7 (Junction of Red, Atchafalaya and 

Old Rivers) to Mile 276.0 (Shreveport, La.); use, administration, 

and navigation.



    (a) [Reserved]

    (b) Locks--(1) Authority of lockmasters. (i) Locks staffed with 

Government personnel. The lockmaster shall be charged with the immediate 

control and management of the lock and of the area set aside as the lock 

area, including the lock approach channels. He shall insure that all 

laws, rules, and regulations for the use of the lock and lock area are 

duly complied with, to which end he is authorized to give all necessary 

orders and directions in accordance therewith both to employees of the 

Government and to any and every person within the limits of the lock or 

lock area, whether navigating the lock or not. No one shall cause any 

movement of any vessel or other floating thing in the lock or approaches 

except by or under the direction of the lockmaster or his assistants. 

For the purpose of the regulations in this section, the ``lock area'' is 

considered to extend from the downstream to the upstream arrival posts.

    (ii) Locks staffed with contract personnel. Contract lock operators 

shall give all necessary orders and direction for operation of the 

locks. No one shall cause any movement of any vessel or other floating 

object in the locks or approaches except by or under the direction of 

the contract lock operator. All duties and responsibilities of the 

lockmasters set forth in this section shall be performed by the contract 

lock operator except that the responsibility for enforcing all laws, 

rules and regulations shall be vested in an offsite government employee 

designated by the Vicksburg District Engineer.

    (2) Sound signals. (i) Vessels desiring passage through a lock in 

either direction shall give notice to the lockmaster by one long and one 

short distinct blast of a horn or whistle when not less than three-

fourths mile from the lock. When carrying dangerous cargo, the signal 

will be one long and two short blasts of the horn or whistle. When the 

lock is ready for entrance, the lockmaster shall reply with one long 

blast of a horn or whistle. When the lock is not ready for entrance, the 

lockmaster shall reply by four or more short, distinct blasts of a horn 

or whistle (danger signal). Permission to leave the lock shall be 

indicated by the lockmaster by one short blast. A distinct blast is 

defined as a clearly audible blast of any length. A long blast means a 

blast of from 4 to 6 seconds' duration. A short blast is of about 1 

second's duration.

    (ii) Vessels that are not equipped with a sound signal desiring 

passage through a lock shall give notice to the lockmaster by one long 

blast of the horn located at either end of the lock wall. The horn may 

be activated by pulling the properly marked chain or rope hanging from 

the horn down to the water surface. One long blast means a blast of from 

4 to 6 seconds' duration.

    (3) Visual signals. Signal lights will be displayed outside each 

lock gate to supplement the sound signals, as follows:

    (i) One green light to indicate that the lock is open to approaching 

navigation.

    (ii) One red light to indicate that the lock is not open to 

approaching navigation. Vessels shall stand clear.

    (iii) Navigation over the dam is possible during high water. When 

this condition exists, a continuous flashing red light, visible upstream 

and downstream, will be displayed to indicate that traffic will bypass 

the lock and pass over the dam on the Ouachita and Black Rivers.



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    (iv) A navigation pass is not provided as part of the Red River 

Locks and Dams. When water levels rise to within 2 feet of the top of 

the lock walls, operation of the locks will cease until the water level 

falls below this level. These stages can reasonably be expected to occur 

once in 10 years. No vessel, tow, or raft shall attempt to navigate over 

the lock or other structures at high river stages. United States Coast 

Guard radiotelephone broadcasts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

navigation bulletins should be monitored for information on lock 

operations.

    (4) Radiotelephone. Two-way radio equipment is provided at all 

locks. The ``Safety and Calling'' channel (Channel 16, frequency of 

156.8 mhz), will be monitored at all times for initial communication 

with vessels. Information transmitted or received in these 

communications shall in no way affect the requirements for the use of 

sound signals or display of visual signals as provided in paragraphs 

(b)(2) and (3) of this section.

    (5) Precedence at locks. (i) The vessel arriving first at a lock 

will be first to lock through. In the case of vessels approaching the 

lock simultaneously from opposite directions, the vessel approaching at 

the same elevation as the water in the lock chamber will be locked 

through first. Precedence shall be given to vessels belonging to the 

United States, passenger vessels, commercial vessels, rafts, and 

pleasure craft, in the order named. Arrival posts or markers will be 

established ashore above and below the locks. Vessels arriving at or 

opposite such posts or markers will be considered as having arrived at 

the lock within the meaning of this paragraph (b)(5). The lockmaster may 

prescribe such departure from the normal order of precedence stated 

above, as in his judgment, is warranted under prevailing circumstances 

to achieve best lock utilization.

    (ii) The lockage of pleasure boats, houseboats, or like craft may be 

expedited by locking them through with commercial craft (other than 

barges carrying dangerous cargoes). If, after the arrival of such craft, 

no combined lockage can be accomplished within a reasonable time, not to 

exceed the time required for three other lockages, then separate 

lockages shall be made. Dangerous cargoes are described in 46 CFR part 

146.

    (iii) Vessels, tows, or rafts navigating on the Ouachita and Black 

Rivers with overall dimensions greater than 80 feet wide, 600 feet long, 

and 9 feet draft, or tows or rafts requiring breaking into two or more 

sections to pass through the lock may transit the lock at such time as 

the lockmaster determines that they will neither unduly delay the 

transit of craft of lesser dimensions, nor endanger the lock structure 

and appurtenances because of wind, current, or other adverse conditions. 

These craft are also subject to such special handling requirements as 

the lockmaster finds necessary at the time of transit.

    (iv) The maximum dimensions on the Red River Waterway of a vessel 

tow attempting to pass through the lock during normal pool stages in a 

single passage are 80 feet wide, 705 feet long, and 9 feet draft. Tows 

requiring breaking into two or more sections to pass through the lock 

may transit the lock at such times as the lockmaster/lock operator 

determines that they will neither unduly delay the transit of craft of 

lesser dimensions, nor endanger the lock structure and appurtenances 

because of wind, current, or other adverse conditions. These craft are 

also subject to such special handling requirements as the lockmaster/

lock operator finds necessary at the time of transit.

    (6) Entrance to an exit from locks. No vessel or raft shall enter or 

leave locks before being signaled to do so. While waiting their turn, 

vessels or rafts must not obstruct navigation and must remain at a safe 

distance from locks. Before entering a lock they shall take position in 

the rear of any vessels or rafts that precede them, and there arrange 

the tow for locking in sections if necessary. Masters and pilots of 

vessels or persons in charge of rafts shall cause no undue delay in 

entering or leaving locks upon receiving the proper signal. They shall 

take such action as will insure that the approaches are not at any time 

unnecessarily obstructed by parts of a tow awaiting lockage or already 

passed through. They shall provide sufficient men to move through locks



[[Page 53]]



promptly without damage to the structures. Vessels or tows shall enter 

locks with reasonable promptness after being signaled to do so.

    (7) Lockage and passage of vessels. (i) Vessels shall enter and 

leave locks under such control as to prevent any damage to the locks, 

gates, guide walls, guard walls, and fenders. Vessels shall be provided 

with suitable lines and fenders, shall always use fenders to protect the 

walls and gates, and when locking at night shall be provided with 

suitable lights and use them as directed. Fenders on vessels shall be 

water-soaked or otherwise fire proofed before being utilized in the lock 

or approaches. Vessels shall not meet or pass each other anywhere 

between the guide walls or fender system at the approaches to locks.

    (ii) Vessels which do not have a draft of at least 2 feet less than 

the depth over sills, or which have projections liable to damage gates, 

walls, or fenders, shall not enter the approaches to or pass through 

locks. Information concerning depth over sills may be obtained from the 

lockman on duty.

    (iii) Vessels having chains, lines, or drags either hanging over the 

sides or ends or dragging on the bottom for steering or other purposes 

will not be permitted to pass locks or dams.

    (iv) Towing vessels shall accompany all tows or partial tows through 

locks.

    (v) No vessel whose cargo projects beyond its sides will be admitted 

to lockage.

    (vi) Vessels in a sinking condition shall not enter locks or 

approaches.

    (vii) The lockmaster may refuse to lock vessels which in his 

judgment fail to comply with the regulations in this paragraph.

    (viii) This section shall not affect the liability of the owners and 

operators of boats for any damage caused by their operations to locks or 

other structures.

    (8) Number of lockages. Tows or rafts locking in sections will 

generally be allowed only two consecutive lockages if individual vessels 

are waiting for lockage, but may be allowed more in special cases. If 

tows or rafts are waiting above and below a lock for lockage, sections 

will be locked both ways alternately whenever practicable. When two or 

more tows or rafts are waiting lockage in the same direction, no part of 

one shall pass the lock until the whole of the one preceding it shall 

have passed.

    (9) Mooring. (i) Vessels and rafts when in a lock shall be moored 

where directed by the lockmaster by bow, stern, and spring lines to the 

bitts provided for that purpose and lines shall not be let go until the 

signal is given for the vessel or raft to leave. Tying to the lock 

ladders is prohibited.

    (ii) The mooring of vessels or rafts near the approaches to locks 

except while waiting for lockage, or at other places in the pools where 

such mooring interfers with general navigation, is prohibited.

    (10) Operating locks. The lock gates, valves, and accessories will 

be moved only under the direction of the lockmaster; but, if required, 

all vessels and rafts using the locks shall furnish ample help on the 

lock walls for handling lines under the direction of the lockmaster.

    (c) Trespass on U.S. property. Trespass on lock grounds or other 

waterway property or injury to the banks, lock entrances, locks, cribs, 

dams, piers, fences, trees, buildings, or any other property of the 

United States pertaining to the waterway is strictly prohibited. No 

landing of freight, passengers, or baggage will be allowed on or over 

Government piers, lock walls, guide or guard walls, except by permission 

of the lockmaster. No person except employees of the United States or 

persons assisting with the locking operations under the direction of the 

lockmaster will be allowed on the dam, lock walls, guide walls, guard 

walls, abutments, or appurtenant structures.

    (d) Vessels to carry regulations. A copy of the regulations in this 

section shall be kept at all times on board each vessel regularly 

navigating the waterways to which the regulations in this section apply. 

Copies may be obtained free of charge at any of the locks or from the 

Vicksburg District Engineer, Vicksburg, Mississippi, upon request.



[37 FR 14778, July 25, 1972, as amended at 52 FR 18235, May 14, 1987; 52 

FR 34775, Sept. 15, 1987; 56 FR 13765, Apr. 4, 1991; 63 FR 24428, May 4, 

1998]



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