[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: 33CFR207.441]



[Page 77-79]

 

                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.  207.441  St. Marys Falls Canal and Locks, Mich.; security.



    (a) Purpose and scope of the regulations. The regulations in this 

section are prescribed as protective measures. They supplement the 

general regulations contained in Sec.  207.440 the provisions of which 

shall remain in full force and effect except as modified by this 

section.

    (b) Restrictions on transit of vessels. The following classes of 

vessels will not be permitted to transit the U.S. locks or enter any of 

the United States approach canals:

    (1)-(3) [Reserved]

    (4) Tanker vessels--(i) Hazardous material. Cleaning and gas freeing 

of tanks on all hazardous material cargo vessels (as defined in 49 CFR 

part 171) shall not take place in a lock or any part of the Soo Locks 

approach canals from the outer end of the east center pier to the outer 

end of the southwest pier.

    (ii) Approaching. Whenever a tank vessel is approaching the Soo 

Locks and within the limits of the lock piers (outer ends of the 

southwest and east center piers) either above or below the locks, no 

other vessel will be released from the locks in the direction of the 

approaching tank vessel, unless the tank vessel is certified gas free or 

is carrying non-combustible products, until the tank vessel is within 

the lock chamber or securely moored to the approach pier. Whenever a 

tank vessel is within a Soo Lock Chamber, the tank vessel, unless 

certified gas free or is carrying non-combustible products, will not be 

released from the lock until the channel within the limits of the lock 

piers either above or below the lock, in the direction of the tank 

vessel, is clear of vessels or vessels therein are securely moored to 

the approach pier. This limits movement to a single vessel whenever a 

tank vessel is within the limits of the lock piers either above or below 

the locks, unless the tank vessel is certified gas free or is carrying 

non-combustible products. Tank vessels to which this paragraph 

(b)(4)(ii) applies include those vessels carrying fuel oil, gasoline, 

crude oil or other flammable liquids in bulk, including vessels that are 

not certified gas free where the previous cargo was one of these 

liquids.



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    (iii) Locks park. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of this 

section, tankers with any type cargo will be permitted to transit the 

MacArthur Lock when the locks park is closed. The exact dates and times 

that the park is closed varies, but generally these periods are from 

midnight to 6 a.m. June through September with one or two hour closure 

extensions in the early and late seasons. Tankers carrying non-

combustible products that will not react hazardously with water or 

tankers that have been purged of gas or hazardous fumes and certified 

gas free will be allowed to transit the MacArthur Lock when the park is 

open.

    (5) Carrying explosives. All vessels, except U.S. vessels of war and 

public vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, carrying explosives are 

prohibited from transiting the U.S. Locks.

    (c) Personnel restrictions. Masters of vessels are responsible for 

the conduct of crew and passengers while transiting St. Marys Falls 

Canal and Locks and for strict compliance with the regulations. The 

following procedures are established for the control of persons 

embarking or debarking from vessels while transiting the locks:

    (1) The master or mate and not more than three deckhands will be 

permitted to go ashore from transiting vessels and then only for normal 

operations and business incident to the transit. A maximum of four men 

will be permitted ashore at any one time from any one ship.

    (2) Personnel--(i) Embarking. Personnel, including technicians, 

repairmen, and company officials will be permitted to embark at the 

locks if they are in possession of a letter addressed to the Area 

Engineer, St. Marys Falls Canal, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, from the 

vessel's master, the operators of the vessel, or the Lake Carriers' 

Association, requesting that the individual named therein be permitted 

to embark on a particular vessel. United States vessel personnel must 

also be in possession of a specially validated seaman's document issued 

by the U.S. Coast Guard. Their papers will be presented to the civilian 

guard on duty at the main gate on Portage Avenue who will arrange escort 

from the gate to the vessel. Luggage will be subject to inspection.

    (ii) Debarking. The vessel master will furnish prior notification to 

the Chief Lockmaster at St. Marys Falls Canal Tower (Radio Call WUD-31) 

that he has vessel personnel, technicians, repairmen or company 

officials aboard for whom he requests authority to debark. If authority 

to debark is granted such personnel will be furnished a letter by the 

vessel master, addressed to the Area Engineer, St. Marys Falls Canal, 

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, giving the name and position of the 

individual concerned. Personnel will not debark until they have been 

properly identified by a licensed officer of the vessel and the letter 

furnished to the escort provided from the civilian guard detail who will 

escort personnel to the gate. In the event a person debarking for 

medical attention is a litter case, notification will be given 

sufficiently in advance to permit the Chief Lockmaster to route the 

vessel to the MacArthur Lock in order that the long carry over the lock 

gates may be avoided. The Area Engineer will make the necessary 

arrangements for clearance of ambulances and medical personnel into the 

lock area.

    (3) No passengers or guest passengers will be permitted to embark or 

debark at St. Marys Falls Canal except in emergency when medical 

attention is required.

    (4) Letters cited in paragraph (c)(2) of this section are valid only 

for a single passage through the lock area. In the event frequent access 

to the area is required a request for extended access with reasons 

therefor will be submitted to the Area Engineer, St. Marys Falls Canal, 

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, who may arrange for the necessary clearance.

    (5) Emergency needs to embark or debark which develop with 

insufficient time to follow the procedure outlined in this paragraph 

will be approved or disapproved by the Area Engineer, St. Marys Falls 

Canal, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, according to the circumstances of the 

individual case, and



[[Page 79]]



requests therefor should be promptly directed to him.



[19 FR 1275, Mar. 6, 1954, as amended at 21 FR 10253, Dec. 20, 1956; 23 

FR 2300, Apr. 9, 1958; 24 FR 4562, June 4, 1959; 32 FR 10652, July 20, 

1967; 35 FR 7512, May 14, 1970; 37 FR 4194, Feb. 2, 1972; 41 FR 3291, 

Jan. 22, 1976; 66 FR 30063, June 5, 2001; 66 FR 31277, June 11, 2001]