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Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1606 Special rules for ships of war, vessels proceeding under convoy, and fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 30— - INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA › § 1606

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Navy can make special rules for extra signal lights or whistle signals for warships and for vessels sailing under convoy. The head of the department that runs the Coast Guard can make special rules for extra signal lights for fishing vessels that fish together as a fleet. Those extra lights and whistle signals must be made so they will not be confused with any light or signal allowed by the International Regulations. The new rules must be published in the Federal Register, and on the effective date in that notice they become part of the International Regulations.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1606

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to promulgate special rules with respect to additional station or signal lights or whistle signals for ships of war or vessels proceeding under convoy, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is authorized to promulgate special rules with respect to additional station or signal lights for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet.
(b)The additional station or signal lights or whistle signals contained in the special rules authorized under subsection (a) of this section shall be, as far as possible, such that they cannot be mistaken for any light or signal authorized by the International Regulations. Notice of such special rules shall be published in the Federal Register and, after the effective date specified in such notice, they shall have effect as if they were a part of the International Regulations.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1606

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73