§164.01. Applicability. — Inbound Citations

(a) Except as provided by § 164.01(b), each towing vessel must be equipped with the following navigational-safety equipment:

(1) By August 2, 1997, a marine radar that meets the following applicable requirements:

(i) For a vessel of less than 300 tons gross tonnage that engages in towing on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western Rivers, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Standard for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, Version 1.1, display Category II and stabilization Category Bravo.

(ii) For a vessel of less than 300 tons gross tonnage that engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the FCC specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Standard for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, Version 1.1, display Category I and stabilization Category Alpha.

(iii) For a vessel of 300 tons gross tonnage or more that engages in towing on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western rivers, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Recommended Standards for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of 300 Tons Gross Tonnage and Upwards, RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X, Version 1.2 except the requirements for azimuth stabilization in paragraph 3.10.

(iv) For a vessel of 300 tons gross tonnage or more that engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the FCC specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Recommended Standards for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of 300 Tons Gross Tonnage and Upwards, RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X, Version 1.2.

(v) A towing vessel with an existing radar must meet the applicable requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) (i) through (iv) of this section by August 2, 1998; except that a towing vessel with an existing radar must meet the display and stabilization requirements of paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section by August 2, 2001.

(2) A searchlight, directable from the vessel's main steering station and capable of illuminating objects at a distance of at least two times the length of the tow.

(3) An installation or multiple installations of VHF-FM radios as prescribed by part 26 of this chapter and 47 CFR part 80, to maintain a continuous listening watch on the designated calling channel, VHF-FM Channel 13 (except on portions of the Lower Mississippi River, where VHF-FM Channel 67 is the designated calling channel), and to separately monitor the International Distress and Calling Channel, VHF-FM Channel 16, except when transmitting or receiving traffic on other VHF-FM channels or when participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) or monitoring a channel of a VTS. (Each U.S. towing vessel of 26 feet (about 8 meters) or more in length, except a public vessel, must hold a ship-radio-station license for radio transmitters (including radar and EPIRBs), and each operator must hold a restricted operator's license or higher. To get an application for either license, call (800) 418-FORM or (202) 418-FORM, or write to the FCC; Wireless Bureau, Licensing Division; 1270 Fairfield Road; Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.)

(4) Either—

(i) An illuminated swing-meter or an illuminated card-type magnetic steering compass readable from the vessel's main steering station, if the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers; or

(5) By August 2, 2001, an echo depth-sounding device readable from the vessel's main steering station, unless the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers.

(6) An electronic position-fixing device, a satellite navigational system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) as required by § 164.41, if the vessel engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes.