---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 401.31"
title: "33"
number: "401.31"
heading: "Meeting and passing."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/401.31"
---

# §401.31. Meeting and passing.

- (a) The meeting and passing of vessels shall be governed by the Collision Regulations of Canada and the Inland Rules of the United States.
- (b) No vessel shall meet another vessel within the area between the caution signs at bridges or within any area that is designated as a no meeting area by the Manager or the Corporation.
- (c) Except as instructed by the traffic controller, no vessel shall overtake and pass or attempt to overtake and pass another vessel—
  - (1) In any canal;
  - (2) Within 600 m of a canal or lock entrance; or
  - (3) **After the order of passing through has been established by the vessel traffic controller.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[39 FR 10900, Mar. 22, 1974, as amended at 45 FR 52378, Aug. 7, 1980; 49 FR 30936, Aug. 2, 1984; 55 FR 48599, Nov. 21, 1990; 65 FR 52915, Aug. 31, 2000; 73 FR 9953, Feb. 25, 2008; 90 FR 1883, Jan. 10, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 983(a) and 984(a)(4), as amended; 49 CFR 1.101, unless otherwise noted.

### Source

Source: 39 FR 10900, Mar. 22, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[39 FR 10900, Mar. 22, 1974, as amended at 45 FR 52378, Aug. 7, 1980; 49 FR 30936, Aug. 2, 1984; 55 FR 48599, Nov. 21, 1990; 65 FR 52915, Aug. 31, 2000; 73 FR 9953, Feb. 25, 2008; 90 FR 1883, Jan. 10, 2025]