[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2, Parts 125 to 199]
[Revised as of July 1, 1997]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR165.810]
[Page 626-628]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)
PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS--Table of Contents
Subpart F--Specific Regulated Navigation Areas and Limited Access Areas
Sec. 165.810 Mississippi River, LA-regulated navigation area.
(a) Purpose and Applicability. This section prescribes rules for all
vessels operating in the Mississippi River below Baton Rouge, LA,
including South and Southwest Passes, to assist in the prevention of
collisions and groundings and to protect the navigable waters of the
Mississippi River from environmental harm resulting from those
incidents.
(b) Mississippi River below Baton Rouge, LA, including South and
Southwest Passes:
(1) Supervision. The use, administration, and navigation of the
waterways to which this paragraph applies shall be under the supervision
of the District Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
(2) Speed; high-water precautions. When passing another vessel (in
motion, anchored, or tied up), a wharf or other structure, work under
construction, plant engaged in river and harbor improvement, levees
withstanding flood waters, building partially or wholly submerged by
high water, or any other structure liable to damage by collision,
suction or wave action,
[[Page 627]]
vessels shall give as much leeway as circumstances permit and reduce
their speed sufficiently to preclude causing damages to the vessel or
structure being passed. 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 therewith. During
high river stages, floods, or other emergencies, the District Commander
may prescribe by navigation bulletins or other means the limiting speed
in land miles per hour deemed necessary for the public safety for the
entire section or any part of the waterways covered by this paragraph,
and such limiting speed shall be strictly observed.
(3) Towing. Towing in any formation by a vessel with insufficient
power to permit ready maneuverability and safe handling is prohibited.
(c) Movement of vessels in vicinity of Algiers Point, New Orleans
Harbor:
(1) Control lights. When the Mississippi River reaches 8 feet on the
Carrollton Gage on a rising stage, and until the gage reads 9 feet on a
falling stage, the movement of all tugs with tows and all ships, whether
under their own power or in tow, but excluding tugs or towboats without
tows or river craft of comparable size and maneuverability operating
under their own power, in the vicinity of Algiers Point shall be
governed by red and green lights designated and located as follows:
Governor Nicholls Light located on the left descending bank on the wharf
shed at the upstream end of Esplanade Avenue Wharf, New Orleans,
approximately 94.3 miles above Head of Passes; and Gretna Light located
on the right descending bank on top of the levee at the foot of Ocean
Avenue, Gretna, approximately 96.6 miles above Head of Passes. Governor
Nicholls Light has lights visible from both upstream and downstream, and
Gretna Light has lights visible from upstream, all indicating by proper
color the direction of traffic around Algiers Point. From downstream,
Gretna Light always shows green. All lights are visible throughout the
entire width of the river and flash once every second. A green light
displayed ahead of a vessel (in the direction of travel) indicates that
Algiers Point is clear and the vessel may proceed. A red light displayed
ahead of a vessel (in the direction of travel) indicates that Algiers
Point is not clear and the vessel shall not proceed. Absence of lights
shall be considered a danger signal and no attempt shall be made to
navigate through the restricted area.
Note: To provide advance information to downbound vessels whether
the control light at Gretna (Gretna Light) is red or green, a traffic
light is located at Westwego on the right descending bank, on the river
batture at the end of Avenue B, approximately 101.4 miles above Head of
Passes.
(2) Ascending vessels. Ascending vessels shall not proceed farther
up the river than a line connecting the upper end of Atlantic Street
Discharge Light (on right descending bank) with the lower end of Desire
Street Wharf (on left descending bank) when a red light is displayed.
Vessels waiting for a change of signal shall keep clear of descending
vessels.
(3) Descending vessels. (i) Descending vessels shall not proceed
farther down the river than a line connecting the lower end of Julia
Street Wharf (on left descending bank) with the vertical flagpole at
Eastern Associated Terminals (on right descending bank) when a red light
is displayed. Vessels shall round to and be headed upstream before they
reach that line, if the signal remains against the vessel. Vessels
waiting for a change of signal shall keep clear of ascending vessels.
(ii) Vessels destined to a wharf above the lower end of Julia Street
Wharf shall signal the Gretna towerman three long blasts and one short
blast of a whistle or horn to indicate that the vessel is not bound
below the Julia Street Wharf.
(iii) The master, pilot, or authorized representative of any vessel
scheduled to depart from a wharf between Governor Nicholls Light and
Louisiana Avenue, bound downstream around Algiers Point, shall
communicate with the Governor Nicholls Light towerman by telephone to
determine whether the channel at Algiers Point is clear before
departure. When the point is clear, vessels shall then proceed promptly
so that other traffic will not be unnecessarily delayed.
[[Page 628]]
Note: Telephone numbers of both signal towers will be published in
navigation bulletins in advance of each operating period.
(4) Minor changes. The District Commander is authorized to waive
operation or suspension of the lights whenever prospective river stages
make it appear that the operation or suspension will be required for
only a brief period of time or when river stages will rise or fall below
the critical stage which is established for operation or suspension by
only a few tenths on the Carrollton Gage.
(5) Underpowered vessels. When the Carrollton Gage reads 12 feet or
higher, any vessel which is considered by the master or pilot as being
underpowered or a poor handler shall not navigate around Algiers Point
without the assistance of a tug or tugs.
(6) Towing. When the Carrollton Gage reads 12 feet or higher, towing
on a hawser in a downstream direction between Julia Street and Desire
Street is prohibited except by special permission of the District
Commander.
(d) Navigation of South and Southwest Passes.
(1) No vessel, except small craft and towboats and tugs without
tows, shall enter either South Pass or Southwest Pass from the Gulf
until after any descending vessel which has approached within two and
one-half (2\1/2\) miles of the outer end of the jetties and visible to
the ascending vessel shall have passed to sea.
(2) No vessel having a speed of less than ten mph shall enter South
Pass from the Gulf when the stage of the Mississippi River exceeds 15
feet on the Carrollton Gage at New Orleans. This paragraph does not
apply when Southwest Pass is closed to navigation.
(3) No vessel, except small craft and towboats and tugs without
tows, ascending South Pass shall pass Franks Crossing Light until after
a descending vessel shall have passed Depot Point Light.
(4) No vessel, except small craft and towboats and tugs without
tows, shall enter the channel at the head of South Pass until after an
ascending vessel which has reached Franks Crossing Light shall have
passed through into the river.
(5) When navigating South Pass during periods of darkness no tow
shall consist of more than one towed vessel other than small craft, and
during daylight hours no tow shall consist of more than two towed
vessels other than small craft. Tows may be in any formation. When
towing on a hawser, the hawser shall be as short as practicable to
provide full control at all times.
(6) When towing in Southwest Pass during periods of darkness no tow
shall consist of more than two towed vessels other than small craft, and
during daylight hours no tow shall consist of more than three towed
vessels other than small craft.
(Sec. 104, Pub. L. 92-340, 86 Stat. 424 (33 U.S.C. 1224); sec. 2, Pub.
L. 95-474, 92 Stat. 1471 (33 U.S.C. 1223); 49 CFR 1.46(n)(4))
[CGD 75-082, 42 FR 51759, Sept. 29, 1977, as amended by CGD 78-080, 44
FR 47933, Aug. 16, 1979; CGD 86-049, 51 FR 27840, Aug. 4, 1986.
Redesignated by CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994; CGD 95-033, 60
FR 28333, May 31, 1995]