To authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing collisions at sea. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President Regulations for is authorized to proclaim the regulations set forth in section 6 of this preventing colAct for preventing collisions involving water-borne craft upon the lisions at sea. high seas, and in all waters connected therewith. Such proclamation, Publication. together with the regulations, shall be published in the Federal 65 Stat. 406. Register, and, after the effective date specified in such proclamation, 65 Stat. 407. such regulations shall have effect as if enacted by statute and shall be followed by all public and private vessels of the United States, and by all aircraft of United States registry to the extent therein made applicable. Such regulations shall not apply to the harbors, rivers, Nonapplicability. and inland waters of the United States; to the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the Lachine Canal in Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada; to the Red River of the North and the rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries; nor, with respect to aircraft, to any territorial waters of the United States. SEC. 2. Any requirements of such regulations in respect of the num- Lights disber, position, range of visibility, or arc of visibility of the lights played by vesrequired to be displayed by vessels shall not apply to any vessel of the sels. Navy or of the Coast Guard whenever the Secretary of the Navy or Exemptions. the Secretary of the Treasury, in the case of Coast Guard vessels operating under the Treasury Department, or such official as either may designate, shall find or certify that, by reason of special construction, it is not possible for such vessel or class of vessels to comply with such regulations. The lights of any such exempted vessel or class of vessels, however, shall conform as closely to the requirements of the applicable regulations as the Secretary or such official shall find or certify to be feasible. Notice of such findings or certification and of Publication of the character and position of the lights prescribed to be displayed on findings, etc. such exempted vessel or class of vessels shall be published in the Federal Register and in the Notice to Mariners and, after the effective date specified in such notice, shall have effect as part of such regulations. 44 Stat. 572. SEC. 3. Section 7 (a) of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 (U. S. C., 1946 edition, title 49, sec. 177 (a)), is amended to read as follows: "Except as specifically provided in the Act entitled 'An Act to Nonapplicability authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing col- to aircraft. lisions at sea', the navigation and shipping laws of the United States, including any definition of 'vessel' or 'vehicle' found therein and including the rules for the prevention of collisions, shall not be construed to apply to seaplanes or other aircraft or to the navigation of vessels in relation to seaplanes or other aircraft." SEC. 4. Section 610 (a) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 (U. S. C., 1946 edition, title 49, sec. 560 (a)), is amended by deleting 52 Stat. 1012. the word "and" at the end of paragraph (4); by changing the period at the end of paragraph (5) to a semicolon and adding the word "and"; and by adding a new paragraph (6) reading as follows: "(6) For any person to operate a seaplane or other aircraft of United States registry upon the high seas in contravention of the regulations proclaimed by the President pursuant to section 1 of the Act entitled 'An Act to authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing collisions at sea'." Conflicting statutes, etc. Regulations for 626 SEC. 5. After such regulations proclaimed under section 1 hereof shall have taken effect, all statutes, regulations, and rules in conflict therewith shall be of no further force and effect. Until such time as such regulations shall have been proclaimed and made effective pursuant to this Act, nothing herein shall in any way limit, supersede, or repeal any regulations for the prevention of collisions, which have heretofore been prescribed by statute, regulation, or rule. SEC. 6. The regulations authorized to be proclaimed under secPreventing Col-/tion 1 hereof are the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1948, approved by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, 1948, held at London from April 23 to June 10, 1948, as follows: lisions at Sea, 1948. 65 Stat. 407. 65 Stat. 408. PART A-PRELIMINARY AND DEFINITIONS RULE 1 (a) These Rules shall be followed by all vessels and seaplanes upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels, except as provided in Rule 30. Where, as a result of their special construction, it is not possible for seaplanes to comply fully with the provisions of Rules specifying the carrying of lights and shapes, these provisions shall be followed as closely as circumstances permit.. (b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the prescribed lights or impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out. (c) In the following Rules, except where the context otherwise requires: (i) the word "vessel" includes every description of water craft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; (ii) the word "seaplane" includes a flying boat and any other aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water; (iii) the term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery; (iv) every power-driven vessel which is under sail and not under power is to be considered a sailing vessel, and every vessel under power, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a power-driven vessel; (v) a vessel or seaplane on the water is "under way" when she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground; (vi) the term "height above the hull" means height above the uppermost continuous deck; (vii) the length and breadth of a vessel shall be deemed to be the length and breadth appearing in her certificate of registry: (viii) the length and span of a seaplane shall be its maximum length and span as shown in its certificate of airworthiness, or as determined by measurement in the absence of such certificate; (ix) the word "visible," when applied to lights, means visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere; (x) the term "short blast" means a blast of about one second's duration; (xi) the term "prolonged blast" means a blast of from four to six seconds' duration; (xii) the word "whistle" means whistle or siren; PART B.-LIGHTS AND SHAPES RULE 2 (a) A power-driven vessel when under way shall carry : (i) On or in front of the foremast, or if a vessel without a foremast then in the forepart of the vessel, a bright white light 65 Stat. 408. so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the 65 Stat. 409. horizon of 20 points of the compass (225 degrees), so fixed as to show the light 10 points (1122 degrees) on each side of the vessel, that is, from right ahead to 2 points (221⁄2 degrees) abaft the beam on either side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 5 miles. (ii) Either forward of or abaft the white light mentioned in sub-section (i) a second white light similar in construction and character to that light. Vessels of less than 150 feet in length, and vessels engaged in towing, shall not be required to carry this second white light but may do so. (iii) These two white lights shall be so placed in a line with and over the keel that one shall be at least 15 feet higher than the other and in such a position that the lower light shall be forward of the upper one. The horizontal distance between the two white lights shall be at least three times the vertical distance. The lower of these two white lights or, if only one is carried, then that light, shall be placed at a height above the hull of not less than 20 feet, and, if the breadth of the vessel exceeds 20 feet, then at a height above the hull not less than such breadth, so however that the light need not be placed at a greater height above the hull than 40 feet. In all circumstances the light or lights, as the case may be, shall be so placed as to be clear of and above all other lights and obstructing superstructures. (iv) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass (11211⁄2 degrees), so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 2 points (2212 degrees) abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. (v) On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass (1121⁄2 degrees), so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 2 points (221⁄2 degrees) abaft the beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. (vi) The said green and red sidelights shall be fitted with inboard screens projecting at least 3 feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bows. (b) A seaplane under way on the water shall carry: (i) In the forepart amidships where it can best be seen a bright white light, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 220 degrees of the compass, so fixed as to show the light 110 degrees on each side of the seaplane, namely, from right ahead to 20 degrees abaft the beam on either side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 3 miles. (ii) On the right or starboard wing tip a green light, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 110 degrees of the compass, so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 20 degrees abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. 65 Stat. 409. 65 Stat. 410. 628 (iii) On the left or port wing tip a red light, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 110 degrees of the compass, so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 20 degrees abaft the beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. RULE 3 (a) A power-driven vessel when towing or pushing another vessel or seaplane shall, in addition to her sidelights, carry two bright white lights in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 feet apart, and when towing more than one vessel shall carry an additional bright white light 6 feet above or below such lights, if the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the stern of the last vessel or seaplane towed, exceeds 600 feet. Each of these lights shall be of the same construction and character and one of them shall be carried in the same position as the white light mentioned in Rule 2 (a) (i), except the additional light, which shall be carried at a height of not less than 14 feet above the hull. In a vessel with a single mast, such lights may be carried on the mast. (b) The towing vessel shall also show either the stern light specified in Rule 10 or in lieu of that light a small white light abaft the funnel or aftermast for the tow to steer by, but such light shall not be visible forward of the beam. The carriage of the white light specified in Rule 2 (a) (ii) is optional. (c) A seaplane on the water, when towing one or more seaplanes or vessels, shall carry the lights prescribed in Rule 2 (b) (i), (ii) and (iii); and, in addition, she shall carry a second white light of the same construction and character as the white light mentioned in Rule 2 (b) (i), and in a vertical line at least 6 feet above or below such light. RULE 4 (a) A vessel which is not under command shall carry, where they can best be seen, and, if a power-driven vessel, in lieu of the lights required by Rule 2 (a) (i) and (ii), two red lights in a vertical line one over the other not less than 6 feet apart, and of such a character as to be visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles. By day, she shall carry in a vertical line one over the other not less than 6 feet apart, where they can best be seen, two black balls or shapes each not less than 2 feet in diameter. (b) A seaplane on the water which is not under command may carry, where they can best be seen, two red lights in a vertical line, one over the other, not less than 3 feet apart, and of such a character as to be visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles, and may by day carry in a vertical line one over the other not less than 3 feet apart, where they can best be seen, two black balls or shapes, each not less than 2 feet in diameter. (c) A vessel engaged in laying or in picking up a submarine cable or navigation mark, or a vessel engaged in surveying or underwater operations when from the nature of her work she is unable to get out of the way of approaching vessels, shall carry, in lieu of the lights specified in Rule 2 (a) (i) and (ii), three lights in a vertical line one over the other not less than 6 feet apart. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red, and the middle light shall be white, and they shall be of such a character as to be visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least 2 miles. By day, she shall carry in a vertical line one over the other not less than 6 feet apart, where they can best be seen, three shapes each not less than 2 feet in diameter, of which the highest and lowest shall be globular in shape and red in colour, and the middle one diamond in shape and white. (d) The vessels and seaplanes referred to in this Rule, when not making way through the water, shall not carry the coloured sidelights, but when making way they shall carry them. 65 Stat. 410. (e) The lights and shapes required to be shown by this Rule are 65 Stat. 411. to be taken by other vessels and seaplanes as signals that the vessel or seaplane showing them is not under command and cannot therefore get out of the way. (f) These signals are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring assistance. Such signals are contained in Rule 31. RULE 5 (a) A sailing vessel under way and any vessel or seaplane being towed shall carry the same lights as are prescribed by Rule 2 for a power-driven vessel or a seaplane under way, respectively, with the exception of the white lights specified therein, which they shall never carry. They shall also carry stern lights as specified in Rule 10, provided that vessels towed, except the last vessel of a tow, may carry, in lieu of such stern light, a small white light as specified in Rule 3 (b). (b) A vessel being pushed ahead shall carry, at the forward end, on the starboard side a green light and on the port side a red light, which shall have the same characteristics as the lights described in Rule 2 (a) (iv) and (v) and shall be screened as provided in Rule 2 (a) (vi), provided that any number of vessels pushed ahead in a group shall be lighted as one vessel. RULE 6 (a) In small vessels, when it is not possible on account of bad weather or other sufficient cause to fix the green and red sidelights,. these lights shall be kept at hand lighted and ready for immediate use, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the starboard side, nor, if practicable, more than 2 points (2212 degrees) abaft the beam on their respective sides. (b) To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, the lanterns containing them shall each be painted outside with the colour of the lights they respectively contain, and shall be provided with proper screens. RULE 7 Power-driven vessels of less than 40 tons, vessels under oars or sails of less than 20 tons, and rowing boats, when under way shall not be required to carry the lights mentioned in Rule 2, but if they do not carry them they shall be provided with the following lights: (a) Power-driven vessels of less than 40 tons, except as provided in section (b), shall carry:— (i) In the forepart of the vessel, where it can best be seen, and at a height above the gunwale of not less than 9 feet, a bright white light constructed and fixed as prescribed in Rule 2 (a) (i) and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 3 miles. (ii) Green and red sidelights constructed and fixed as prescribed in Rule 2 (a) (iv) and (v), and of such a character as |