§164.72. Navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications required on towing vessels. — Inbound Citations

(b) Sections 164.70 through 164.82 of this part apply to each towing vessel of 12 meters (39.4 feet) or more in length operating in the navigable waters of the United States other than the St. Lawrence Seaway; except that a towing vessel is exempt from the requirements of § 164.72 if it is—

(1) Used solely within a limited geographic area, such as a fleeting-area for barges or a commercial facility, and used solely for restricted service, such as making up or breaking up larger tows;

(2) Used solely for assistance towing as defined by 46 CFR 10.107;

(3) Used solely for pollution response; or

(4) The COTP, upon written request, may, in writing, exempt a vessel from § 164.72 for a specified route if he or she decides that exempting it would not allow its unsafe navigation under anticipated conditions.

(2) RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, RTCM Recommended Standards for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, Version 1.1, October 10, 1995, IBR approved for § 164.72.

For purposes of §§ 164.72 through 164.82, the term—

(a) The owner, master, or operator of each towing vessel shall maintain operative the navigational-safety equipment required by § 164.72.

(a) This section applies to a towing vessel not subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.72.

Requirements for marine radar are set forth in 33 CFR 164.72.

(d) The compass or swing-meter must be readable from each operating station.

Note to § 140.725. Certain towing vessels subject to § 140.725 are also subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.72 and Automatic Identification System requirements of 33 CFR 164.46.

(d) The owner, master, or operator of each towing vessel unable to repair within 96 hours an inoperative marine radar required by § 164.72(a) shall so notify the Captain of the Port (COTP) and shall seek from the COTP both a deviation from the requirements of this section and an authorization for continued operation in the area to be transited. Failure of redundant navigational-safety equipment, including but not limited to failure of one of two installed radars, where each satisfies § 164.72(a), does not necessitate either a deviation or an authorization.

(1) The initial notice and request for a deviation and an authorization may be spoken, but the request must also be written. The written request must explain why immediate repair is impracticable, and state when and by whom the repair will be made.

(2) The COTP, upon receiving even a spoken request, may grant a deviation and an authorization from any of the provisions of §§ 164.70 through 164.82 for a specified time if he or she decides that they would not impair the safe navigation of the vessel under anticipated conditions.

(i) Applicable information from nautical charts and publications (also see paragraph (b) of section 164.72), including Coast Pilot, Coast Guard Light List, and Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners for the port of departure, all ports of call, and the destination;