CFR

165.1704—Prince William Sound, Alaska-regulated navigation area.

(a) The following is a regulated navigation area: The navigable waters of the United States north of a line drawn from Cape Hinchinbrook Light to Schooner Rock Light, comprising that portion of Prince William Sound between 146°30′ W. and 147°20′ W. and includes Valdez Arm, Valdez Narrows, and Port Valdez.

(b) Within the regulated navigation area described in paragraph (a) of this section, § 161.60 of this chapter establishes a VTS Special Area for the waters of Valdez Arm, Valdez Narrows, and Port Valdez northeast of a line bearing 307° True from Tongue Point at 61°02′06″ N., 146°40′ W.; and southwest of a line bearing 307° True from Entrance Island Light at 61°05′06″ N., 146°36′42″ W.

(c) Regulations. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 161.13 and § 161.60(c) of this chapter, a tank vessel of 20,000 deadweight tons or more that intends to navigate within the regulated navigation area must:

(1) Report compliance with part 164 of this chapter, to the Vessel Traffic Center (VTC);

(2) Have at least two radiotelephones capable of operating on the designated VTS frequency, one of which is capable of battery operation;

(3) When steady wind conditions in the VTS Special Area or Port Valdez exceed, or are anticipated to exceed 40 knots, proceed as directed by the VTC (entry into the VTS Special Area and Port Valdez is prohibited);

(4) When transiting the VTS Special Area, limit speed to 12 knots;

(5) If laden and intending to navigate the VTS Special Area, limit speed to 12 knots except between Middle Rock and Potato Point where the speed limit shall be 6 knots; and

(6) Until December 31, 2004, have an operating Automatic Identification System Shipborne Equipment (AISSE) system installed.

(i) The designated digital selective calling frequency (DSC) in Prince William Sound is 156.525MHz (VHF Channel 70).

(ii) AISSE equipped vessels will not be required to make voice radio position reports at designated reporting points required by § 161.20(b), unless otherwise directed by the VTC.

(iii) Whenever a vessel's AISSE becomes non-operational, as defined in § 164.43(c) of this chapter, before entering or while underway in the VTS area, a vessel must:

(A) Notify the VTC;

(B) Make the required voice radio position reports as set forth in § 161.60 and required by § 161.20(b) of this chapter ;

(D) Restore the AISSE to operating condition as soon as possible.

(iv) Whenever a vessel's AISSE becomes non-operational due to a loss of position correction information (i.e., the U.S. Coast Guard dGPS system cannot provide the required error correction messages) a vessel must:

(A) Make the required voice radio position reports as set forth in § 161.60 and required by § 161.20(b) of this chapter; and

(B) Make other voice radio reports as required by the VTS.

(v) Whenever a vessel's AISSE becomes non-operational before getting underway in the VTS area, permission to get underway must be obtained from the VTC.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note: Regulations pertaining to Automatic Identification System Shipborne Equipment (AISSE) required capabilities are set forth in Part 164 of this chapter .

Code of Federal Regulations

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36335, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-033, 60 FR 28333, May 31, 1995; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33365, June 19, 1997; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 35533, June 30, 1998; USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39368, July 1, 2003; 68 FR 60570, Oct. 22, 2003]

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