162.205—Suisun Bay, San Joaquin River, Sacramento River, and connecting waters, CA.

(a) San Joaquin River Deep Water Channel between Suisun Bay and the easterly end of the channel at Stockton; use, administration and navigation— (1) Maximum speed. The maximum speed for all ocean-going craft shall not exceed 10 miles per hour above the lower end of New York Slough, seven miles per hour above Criminal Point, or five miles per hour while passing any wharf, dock, or moored craft. As used in this paragraph, the speed of a vessel when navigating with the current shall be its rate of movement in excess of the velocity of the current.

(2) Passing. All craft passing other boats, barges, scows, etc., in motion, moored or anchored, shall slow down and take every necessary precaution to avoid damage.

(3) Right of way. (i) United States dredges, tugs, launches, derrick boats, and similar plant of contractors executing river and harbor improvement work for the United States, and displaying the signals prescribed by the regulations contained in part 80 of this chapter shall have the right of way and other craft shall exercise special caution to avoid interference with the work on which the plant is engaged. Dredges, whether Federal or contractors' plant, working the channel must however, take special care to give ocean-going vessels sufficient room for passing, and must lift both spuds and the ladder, and pull clear, if an adequate width of clear channelway cannot otherwise be provided. Ocean-going vessels may show at the masthead a black ball not more than 20 inches in diameter as a signal to the dredge, and may also blow five long blasts of the whistle when within reasonable hearing distance of the dredge, such signal to be followed at the proper time by the passing signal described in the local pilot rules. The dredge shall promptly acknowledge both signals in the usual manner.

(ii) Light-draft vessels when meeting or being overtaken by ocean-going vessels, shall give the right of way to such vessels by making use of the shallower portions of the waterway.

(iii) Rafts and tows must promptly give the channel side demanded upon proper signal by a vessel, and must be handled in such a manner as not to obstruct or interfere with the free use of the waterway by other craft.

(4) Collisions. (i) Ocean-going vessels in collision in the channel or turning basin must, if still afloat and in a condition making anchorage necessary, be immediately removed to an approved anchorage ground, or if in such condition that beaching is necessary, they shall be temporarily beached on the northwest side of Mandeville Island or in the Old River.

(ii) Light-draft vessels suffering collision shall be disposed of as directed by the District Commander or his authorized representative.

(5) Wrecks. In no case following accidents of fire or collision will a vessel be allowed to remain either anchored or grounded in the channel, or beached at any place where it endangers other vessels, while settlement is pending with the underwriters.

(6) Other laws and regulations. In all other respects, the existing Federal laws and rules and regulations affecting navigable waters of the United States will govern in this channel.

(b) Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel between Suisun Bay and easterly end of Turning Basin at West Sacramento; use, administration, and navigation— (1) Maximum speed for all ocean going craft— When going against a current of two knots or more, the maximum speed over the bottom shall not exceed 8 knots. When going with the current, in slack water, or against a current of two knots or less, the maximum speed through the water shall not exceed 10 knots.

(ii) Between Rio Vista Bridge and Port of Sacramento. When going against a current of two knots or more, the maximum speed over the bottom shall not exceed 5 knots. When going with the current, in slack water, or against a current of two knots or less, the maximum speed through the water shall not exceed 7 knots.

(iii) Speed past docks or moored craft. Within 550 feet of the centerline of the channel the speed shall be the minimum required to maintain steerageway; wind, tide, current, etc., being taken into consideration.

(iv) Passing. All craft passing other boats, barges, scows, etc., underway, moored or anchored, shall take every necessary precaution to avoid damage.

(v) Speed, high-water precautions. When passing another vessel (underway, anchored, or tied up); a wharf or other structure; work under construction; plant engaged in river and harbor improvement; levees withstanding flood waters; buildings partially or wholly submerged by high water; or any other structure liable to damage by collision, suction or wave action; vessels shall give as much leeway as circumstances permit and reduce their speed sufficiently to preclude causing damage to the vessel or structure being passed. As deemed necessary for public safety during high river stages, floods, or other emergencies, the District Commander may prescribe, by navigation bulletins or other means, the limiting speed in knots or temporarily close the waterway or any reach of it to traffic. Since this subparagraph pertains directly to the manner in which vessels are operated, masters of vessels shall be held responsible for strict observance and full compliance herewith.

(2) Right of way. (i) Dredges, tugs, launches, derrick boats and other similar equipment, executing river and harbor improvement work for the United States, and displaying the signals prescribed by the regulations contained in part 80, of this Chapter, shall have the right-of-way and other craft shall exercise special caution to avoid interference with the work on which the plant is engaged. Dredges, whether Federal or contractor's plant, working the channel must however, take special care to give ocean-going vessels sufficient room for passing, and must lift both spuds and the ladder, and pull clear, if an adequate width of clear channelway cannot otherwise be provided.

(ii) Vessels intending to pass dredges or other types of floating plant working in navigable channels, when within a reasonable distance therefrom and not in any case over a mile, shall indicate such intention by one long blast of the whistle, and shall be directed to the proper side for passage by the sounding, by the dredge or other floating plant, of the signal prescribed in the inland pilot rules for vessels underway and approaching each other from opposite directions, which shall be answered in the usual manner by the approaching vessel. If the channel is not clear, the floating plant shall sound the alarm or danger signal and the approaching vessel shall slow down or stop and await further signal from the plant.

(iii) When the pipeline from a dredge crosses the channel in such a way that an approaching vessel cannot pass safely around the pipeline or dredge, there shall be sounded immediately from the dredge the alarm or danger signal and the approaching vessel shall slow down or stop and await further signal from the dredge. The pipeline shall then be opened and the channel cleared as soon as practicable; when the channel is clear for passage the dredge shall so indicate by sounding the usual passing signal as prescribed in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section. The approaching vessel shall answer with a corresponding signal and pass promptly.

(iv) When any pipeline or swinging dredge shall have given an approaching vessel or tow the signal that the channel is clear, the dredge shall straighten out within the cut for the passage of the vessel or tow.

(v) Shallow draft vessels when meeting or being overtaken by ocean-going vessels, shall give the right-of-way to such vessels by making use of the shallower portions of the waterway, wherever possible.

(vi) Tows should promptly give the channel side requested by proper signal from a vessel, and should be handled in such a manner as not to obstruct or interfere with the free use of the waterway by other craft.

(3) Obstruction of traffic. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section no person shall willfully or carelessly obstruct the free navigation of the waterway, or delay any vessel having the right to use the waterway.

(ii) No vessel shall anchor within the channel except in distress or under stress of weather. Any vessel so anchored shall be moved as quickly as possible to such anchorage as will leave the channel clear for the passage of vessels.

(iii) Motorboats, sailboats, rowboats, and other small craft shall not anchor or drift in the regular ship channel except under stress of weather or in case of breakdown. Such craft shall be so operated that they will not interfere with or endanger the movement of commercial or public vessels.

(4) Collisions. (i) Ocean-going vessels in collision in the channel or turning basin, must if still afloat and in a condition making anchorage necessary, be immediately removed to an approved anchorage ground, or if in such condition that beaching is necessary, they shall be temporarily beached on the southwest side of Ryer Island from Mile 15.0 to Mile 16.3 or in the Harbor and Turning Basin at West Sacramento.

(ii) Light-draft vessels suffering collision shall be disposed of as directed by the District Commander or his authorized representative.

(5) Marine accidents. Masters, mates, pilots, owners, or other persons using the waterway to which this paragraph applies shall notify the District Commander and in the case of undocumented vessels, the State Division of Small Craft Harbors also, by the most expeditious means available of all marine accidents, such as fire, collision, sinking or stranding, where there is possible obstruction of the channel or interference with navigation or where damage to Government property is involved, furnishing a clear statement as to the name, address, and ownership of the vessel or vessels involved, the time and place, and the action taken. In all cases, the owner of the sunken vessel shall take immediate steps to mark the wreck properly.

(6) Other laws and regulations. In all other respects, existing Federal laws and rules and regulations affecting navigable waters of the United States will govern in this channel.

(c) Sacramento River, Decker Island Restricted Anchorage for Vessels of the U.S. Government—(1) The anchorage ground. An elongated area in the Sacramento River bounded on the west by the shore of Decker Island and the following lines: Beginning on the shore at Decker Island North End Light at latitude 38°06′16″ N., longitude 121°42′32.5″ W.; thence easterly to latitude 38°06′15″ N., longitude 121°42′27″ W.; thence southerly to latitude 38°05′22″ N., longitude 121°42′30″ W.; thence southwesterly to latitude 38°05′08″ N., longitude 121°42′40″ W.; thence west southwesterly to latitude 38°05′02″ N., longitude 121°42′50″ W.; thence northwesterly to the shore of Decker Island at latitude 38°05′04″ N., longitude 121°42′52.5″ W.

(2) Special Regulation. No Vessel or other craft except those owned by or operating under contract with the United States may navigate or anchor within 50 feet of any moored Government vessel in the area. Commercial and pleasure craft shall not moor to buoys or chains of Government vessels, nor may they, while moored or underway, obstruct the passage of Government or other vessels through the area.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note: The Corps of Engineers also has regulations dealing with this section in 33 CFR Part 207 .

Code of Federal Regulations

[CGD 75-082, 42 FR 51759, Sept. 29, 1977, as amended by CGD12 84-07, 51 FR 12318, Apr. 10, 1986; CGD11-94-007, 60 FR 16796, Apr. 3, 1995; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 35532, June 30, 1998]