Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 27, 2024

Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters last revised: Nov 25, 2024
§ 169.1 - What is the purpose of this part?

This subpart prescribes the requirements for mandatory ship reporting systems. Ship reporting systems are used to provide, gather, or exchange information through radio reports. The information is used to provide data for many purposes including, but not limited to: navigation safety, maritime security and domain awareness, environmental protection, vessel traffic services, search and rescue, weather forecasting and prevention of marine pollution.

Note to § 169.1:

For ship reporting system requirements not established by the Coast Guard, see 50 CFR Part 404.

[USCG-1999-5525, 64 FR 29234, June 1, 1999, as amended by USCG-2005-22612, 73 FR 23318, Apr. 29, 2008; USCG-2009-0416, 74 FR 27442, June 10, 2009]
§ 169.5 - How are terms used in this part defined?

As used in this part—

Administration means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.

Cargo ship means any ship which is not a passenger ship.

Flag Administration means the Government of a State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.

Gross tonnage means tonnage as defined under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (Incorporated by reference, see § 169.15).

Gross tons means vessel tonnage measured in accordance with the method utilized by the flag state administration of that vessel.

High speed craft means a craft that is operable on or above the water and is capable of a maximum speed equal to or exceeding V = 3.7 × displ .1667, where “V” is the maximum speed and “displ” is the vessel displacement corresponding to the design waterline in cubic meters.

High speed passenger craft means a high speed craft carrying more than 12 passengers.

International voyage means a voyage from a country to which the present International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 applies to a port outside such country, or conversely. For U.S. ships, such voyages will be considered to originate at a port in the United States, regardless of when the voyage actually began. Such voyages for U.S. ships will continue until the ship returns to the United States from its last foreign port.

Long range identification and tracking (LRIT) information or position report means a report containing the following information:

(1) The identity of the ship;

(2) The position of the ship (latitude and longitude); and

(3) The date and time of the position provided.

LRIT Data Center means a center established by a SOLAS Contracting Government or a group of Contracting Governments, or in the case of the International Data Center, by IMO, to request, receive, process, and archive LRIT information. An LRIT Data Center may be National, Regional, Co-operative or International.

Mandatory ship reporting system means a ship reporting system that requires the participation of specified vessels or classes of vessels, and that is established by a government or governments after adoption of a proposed system by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as complying with all requirements of regulation V/8-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS), except paragraph (e) thereof.

Mobile offshore drilling unit means a self-propelled vessel capable of engaging in drilling operations for the exploration or exploitation of subsea resources.

Passenger ship means a ship that carries more than 12 passengers.

Self-propelled ships means ships propelled by mechanical means.

Shore-based authority means the government appointed office or offices that will receive the reports made by ships entering each of the mandatory ship reporting systems. The office or offices will be responsible for the management and coordination of the system, interaction with participating ships, and the safe and effective operation of the system. Such an authority may or may not be an authority in charge of a vessel traffic service.

United States means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

[USCG-1999-5525, 66 FR 58070, Nov. 20, 2001, as amended by USCG-2005-22612, 73 FR 23318, Apr. 29, 2008]
§ 169.10 - What geographic coordinates are used?

Geographic coordinates expressed in terms of latitude or longitude, or both, are not intended for plotting on maps or charts where the referenced horizontal datum is the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83), unless such geographic coordinates are expressly labeled NAD 83. Geographic coordinates without the NAD 83 reference may be plotted on maps or charts referenced to NAD 83 only after application of the appropriate corrections that are published on the particular map or chart being used.

§ 169.15 - Incorporation by reference: Where can I get a copy of the publications mentioned in this part?

(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that specified in this section, the Coast Guard must publish notice of change in the Federal Register and the material must be available to the public. All approved material is available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Also, it is available for inspection at Coast Guard Headquarters. Contact Commandant (CG-NAV), Attn: Office of Navigation Systems, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Stop 7418, Washington, DC 20593-7418, and is available from the sources indicated in this section.

(b) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Bureau Central de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale, 3 rue de Varembé, P.O. Box 131, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.

(1) IEC 60945, Fourth edition 2002-08, Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems—General requirements—Methods of testing and required test results, incorporation by reference approved for § 169.215.

(2) [Reserved]

(c) International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, U.K.

(1) IMO Resolution MSC.202(81), adopted on May 19, 2006, Adoption of Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as Amended, incorporation by reference approved for § 169.240.

(2) IMO Resolution MSC.210(81), adopted on May 19, 2006, Performance Standards and Functional Requirements for the Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships, incorporation by reference approved for §§ 169.215 and 169.240.

(3) IMO Resolution MSC.254(83), adopted on October 12, 2007, Adoption of Amendments to the Performance Standards and Functional Requirements for the Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships, incorporation by reference approved for §§ 169.215 and 169.240.

(4) IMO Resolution A.694(17), adopted on November 6, 1991, General Requirements for Shipborne Radio Equipment Forming Part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and for Electronic Navigational Aids, incorporation by reference approved for § 165.215.

(5) International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, incorporation by reference approved for § 169.5.

[USCG-2005-22612, 73 FR 23319, Apr. 29, 2008, as amended by USCG-2010-0351, 75 FR 36287, June 25, 2010; USCG-2011-0257, 76 FR 31838, June 2, 2011; USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38448, July 7, 2014]
authority: 46 U.S.C. 70005,70034,70115,Department. 0170.1
source: USCG-1999-5525, 64 FR 29234, June 1, 1999, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 33 CFR 169.5