(a) The regulations in this part apply to vessels navigating the harbors, rivers, and inland waters of the United States, except the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal, the Red River of the North, the Mississippi River and its tributaries above Huey P. Long Bridge, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Plaquemine-Morgan City alternate waterway.

(b) Seagoing barges and their towing vessels shall be subject to the requirements in this part under the provisions of section 14 of the Act of May 28, 1908, as amended (sec. 14, 35 Stat. 428, as amended; 33 U.S.C. 152). Under the provisions of section 15 of the Act of May 28, 1908, as amended (sec. 15, 35 Stat. 429; 33 U.S.C. 153), the penalty for use of an unlawful towline shall be an action against the master of the towing vessel seeking the suspension or revocation of his license or merchant mariner credential.

The following definition applies to this part:

Merchant mariner credential or MMC means the credential issued by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR part 10. It combines the individual merchant mariner's document, license, and certificate of registry enumerated in 46 U.S.C. subtitle II part E as well as the STCW endorsement into a single credential that serves as the mariner's qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service.

(a) The tows of seagoing barges when navigating the inland waters of the United States shall be limited in length to five vessels, including the towing vessel or vessels.

(a) In all cases where tows can be bunched, it should be done.

(b) Tows navigating in the North and East Rivers of New York must be bunched above a line drawn between Robbins Reef Light and Owls Head, Brooklyn, but the quarantine anchorage and the north entrance to Ambrose Channel shall be avoided in the process of bunching tows.

(c) Tows must be bunched above the mouth of the Schuylkill River, Pa.