no passing vessel shall foul such equipment or its moorings, or pass at such speed as to create a dangerous wash or wake. Floating equipment of the Canal from which divers are working, and floating equipment so moored, and vessels under repair and in such condition, that a high wash might cause swampage or be hazardous to the workmen, shall be passed by all vessels at a speed sufficiently slow as not to create a dangerous wash or wake. § 111.153 Sound signals when vessels are in sight of one another. (a) When vessels are in sight of one another, a power-driven vessel or motorboat underway, in taking any course of action, other than as provided in § 111.151, authorized or required by these rules, shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle, namely: One short blast to mean "I intend to pass you on my port hand." Two short blasts to mean "I intend to pass you on my starboard hand.” Three short blasts to mean "My engines are going astern." The other vessel shall promptly answer a one-blast or two-blast signal with a similar blast of her whistle, unless passage in the manner proposed would be dangerous or the course or intention of the first vessel is not understood. In either such case, the other vessel shall sound the danger signal. Thereafter both vessels shall proceed with caution until new agreement is reached or danger of collision has passed. (b) Whenever a power-driven vessel or motorboat is in sight of another vessel and is in doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the other vessel to avert collision, she shall indicate such doubt by giving the danger signal. The giving of such a signal shall not relieve a vessel of her obligations under § 111.3 or § 111.4 or any other section, or of her duty to indicate any action taken under these sections by giving the appropriate sound signals laid down in this section. (c) Failure to give or receive any of the whistle signals required by this section shall not lessen the duty of both vessels to pass each other as herein prescribed, except when emergency action becomes necessary as provided in § 111.3. § 111.154 Sound signals not to be used except as prescribed. The one, two, and three short blast signals and the danger signal prescribed in § 111.153 for power-driven vessels and motorboats shall never be used except for the purposes indicated. The one, two, and three short blast signals shall never be used except when vessels are in sight of one another, and the course and position of each can be estimated in the day time from a sight of the vessel herself, or at night from her navigation lights. § 111.155 Power-driven vessel or motorboat rounding a bend. Whenever a power-driven vessel or motorboat is nearing a bend in a channel where a vessel approaching from the other direction cannot be seen, such vessel, when she shall have arrived within one-half mile of the bend, shall give a signal by one prolonged blast of her whistle, which signal shall be answered by a similar blast given by any approaching vessel that may be within hearing around the bend. Regardless of whether an approaching vessel on the farther side of the bend is heard, such bend shall be rounded with alertness and caution. § 111.156 Sound signal for powerdriven vessel or motorboat leaving berth. When a power-driven vessel or motorboat is moving from her dock or berth, she shall give a signal of one prolonged blast of the whistle; but immediately after clearing the dock or berth so as to be fully in sight she shall be governed by the steering and sailing rules. § 111.157 Sound signals for passing through the gate in a pipe line. When a power-driven vessel or motorboat is approaching a pipe line obstructing the channel, and desires to pass through the gate, she shall give a signal of two blasts, namely, one prolonged blast followed by a short blast, which signal shall be promptly answered by the gate tender with the same signal if she is ready to have the approaching vessel pass, or by the danger signal if it is not safe for her to pass. In no case shall the approaching vessel attempt to pass until the gate tender signifies by a signal of one prolonged and one short blast that the channel is open. The gate tender shall so signify as soon as practicable, and the approaching vessel shall answer with a similar signal. § 111.158 Sound signals for passing floating equipment using maneuvering lines. When a power-driven vessel or motorboat is approaching floating Canal equipment which has maneuvering lines obstructing the channel, and desires to pass, she shall give the appropriate signal comparable to the signals prescribed by 111.153 for certain vessels in sight of one another, which the floating equipment, after promptly slacking her lines and complying with § 111.47 shall answer with a similar signal. If, for any reason, the floating equipment is unable to give such signal, she shall so signify by blowing the danger signal, and the approaching vessel shall not attempt to pass until the visual signal required by § 111.47 has been given, and the proper passing whistle signal has been given by the floating equipment. After receiving such signals, and after answering the passing signal, the approaching vessel may then proceed. The sounding of the steam whistle or siren except in the giving of any authorized or required signal is prohibited. § 111.160 Navigation by, or with respect to, seaplanes. (a) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. The folowing provisions shall be observed by all seaplanes operated on the water and by vessels with respect to such seaplanes when approaching so as to involve risk of collision: (1) Crossing: The seaplane or vessel which has the other on the right shall give way so as to keep well clear. (2) Approaching head-on: When two seaplanes, or a seaplane and a vessel approach head-on, or approximately so, each shall alter her course to the right so as to keep well clear. (3) Overtaking: The seaplane or vessel which is being overtaken has the right-of-way, and the one overtaking shall alter her course so as to keep well clear. (b) When two seaplanes, or a seaplane and a vessel are approaching each other so as to involve risk of collision, each shall proceed with careful regard to existing circumstances and conditions including the limitations of the respective craft. § 111.161 Speed and maneuvering of vessels in fog, mist, etc. (a) Every vessel or seaplane when taxiing on the water, shall in fog, mist, heavy rain storms, or any other conditions similarly restricting visibility, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions. (b) A power-driven vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog signal of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained, shall so far as the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over. (c) When two vessels are meeting each other in a Canal channel less than 800 feet wide, they shall, when about a mile apart, reduce speed, if practicable, and then proceed cautiously until they have passed clear. (d) A vessel moored or at anchor shall not get underway when, because of atmospheric conditions, visibility is less than 1,000 feet. A vessel already underway under such conditions shall anchor or moor as soon as practicable, and shall report immediately to the Port Captain by radio or other available means. § 111.162 Maximum speeds. (a) A vessel shall not exceed the speeds designated below, except in an emergency: Atlantic entrance to Gatun Locks_ Knots 12 18 15 12 10 and Darien Bands, Miraflores Lake, and in or near the locks, shall not exceed a speed that is safe under the existing circumstances and conditions, except in an emergency. (c) The Port Captain may authorize departures from the maximum speeds established by this section in the case of particular vessels whose handling characteristics are such as to indicate that a higher speed or speeds can be prudently allowed. (d) This section does not apply to motorboats, as defined in § 111.163(b) or to vessels of the Panama Canal Company. § 111.163 Same; motorboats and Panama Canal Company vessels. (a) Motorboats and vessels of the Panama Canal Company when underway shall proceed at a speed which is reasonable under the existing circumstances and conditions and which does not create a hazard to life or property. (b) For the purposes of this section, a motorboat is defined as a vessel propelled by machinery and not more than 65 feet in length as measured from end to end over the deck. Subpart E-Miscellaneous When a vessel or seaplane on the water is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely: (a) A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute. (b) A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus. (c) Rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals. (d) A signal made by radiotelegraphy or by any other signalling methods consisting of the group the Morse Code. ... in (e) A signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word "Mayday." (f) The international Code Signal of distress indicated by N.C. (g) A signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. (h) Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.). (i) A rocket parachute flare showing a red light. All orders to helmsmen shall be given in the following sense: right rudder or starboard to mean "put the vessel's rudder to starboard"; left rudder or port to mean "put the vessel's rudder to port". § 111.203 Diving operations; industrial and commercial; recreational skindiving; light, flag. (a) When industrial or commercial diving operations are underway in any waters of the Canal Zone, a revolving red light shall be displayed in all weathers from sunset to sunrise from the diving barge or other craft serving the diver. The light shall be so mounted and of sufficient intensity as to be visible for not less than 1 mile. A flag of the type described in paragraph (b) of this section shall be displayed from such craft from sunrise to sunset. Vessels approaching or passing an area where diving operations are underway shall reduce speed sufficiently to avoid creating a dangerous wash or wake. (b) Recreational skindiving in waters of the Canal proper, including Gaillard Cut and the channel through Gatun and Miraflores Lakes and in the waters of all ship's anchorages, harbors, piers, and docks is prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Port Captain. Authorization shall not be given for skindiving at night. When recreational skindiving activities are underway in any waters of the Canal Zone, a flag with a hoist or height of not less than 12 inches and a fly or length of not less than 18 inches and having a red background and a 31⁄2-inch diagonal white stripe, running from the upper corner of the staff end of the flag to the lower corner of the outside end of the flag, shall be displayed from the mast of the craft serving the skindiver. Flags larger than the foregoing minimum dimensions shall preserve the same proportions. Vessels approaching an area where such skindiving activities are underway shall reduce speed sufficiently to avoid creating a dangerous wash or wake. (c) The provisions of this section do not apply to diving operations conducted in or about the locks by locks personnel. (d) The provisions of this section do not apply to emergency situations in which prompt action is necessary to save or protect life or property and time does not permit compliance. [31 F.R. 12295, Sept. 16, 1966, as amended at 32 F.R. 8243, June 8, 1967] § 111.204 Water skiing; observer required; prohibited times and areas. (a) When towing a person on water skis or an aquaplane or similar device a motorboat or any other vessel shall, in addition to the operator, carry an observer, at least 12 years of age, so placed in the motorboat or other vessel as to be able to keep the operator fully informed of all conditions potentially hazardous to the person towed or any other property or person in the vicinity. The observer shall be alert and shall keep the operator fully informed of all hazards. The operator shall devote his full attention to operating the motorboat or other vessel in a safe manner. (b) No person shall operate a motorboat or other vessel on the waters of the Canal Zone towing a person or persons on water skis, or aquaplane or similar device nor shall any person engage in water skiing, aquaplaning or other similar activity during the hours from sunset to sunrise. (c) No person shall operate water skis, an aquaplane or similar device in such a manner as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person. (d) No person shall operate a motorboat or other vessel towing a person or persons on water skis, aquaplane or any similar device nor shall any person engage in water skiing, aquaplaning or other similar activity on the waters of designated ships anchorages, harbors, piers, or docks in the Canal Zone nor on the waters of the Canal channel extending from Buoys 1 and 2, Pacific Entrance, through Miraflores Lake, Gaillard Cut, Gatun Lake and the Atlantic entrance Channel to the Cristobal Breakwater Entrance. (e) No person shall operate water skis, an aquaplane or similar device within 100 feet of the shoreline of any area which has been licensed by the Canal Zone Government to a person, persons, or organization for use as a boat recreation site and which has been posted with the licensee's name and land license number. This prohibition shall not apply to the licensee of such area or to his guests. § 111.205 Operation of small craft in recreation-site areas prohibited. (a) No small craft shall be operated within 100 feet of the shoreline of any area which has been licensed by the Canal Zone Government to a person, persons, or organization for use as a boat recreation site and which has been posted with the licensee's name and land license number, unless it is necessary to do so in going to or from another licensed area, in which case the licensee of the area to or from which passage is being made or his guests may proceed through the restricted area, but must do so at a reduced speed that will avoid unreasonable interference with use of the area through which passage is made and the property thereon. This section shall not apply to use by a licensee or his guests of the area licensed to him; nor to any small craft in distress. (b) For the purposes of this section, a small craft is defined as any vessel which is not required to have the assistance of locomotives when transiting the locks. § 111.206 Operating small craft while intoxicated or while under the influence of drugs prohibited. (a) No person shall operate a small craft while intoxicated. (b) It is unlawful for any person to operate any small craft who is a habitual user, or under the influence, of any narcotic drug or who is under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him incapable of safely operating the vessel in Canal Zone waters. The fact that one lawfully is or has been using any drug shall not constitute a defense against a charge of violating this section. (c) For purposes of this section, the term small craft shall have the same meaning as in § 111.205. § 111.207 tion. Small craft; hazardous opera An operator of small craft may not operate so close to a transiting or other vessel maneuvering in Canal Zone waters as to either: (a) Hamper the safe operation of such transiting or other vessel or endanger the small craft or (b) Place the small craft in a position of danger if the small craft's means of propulsion fails. |