§ 165.923 - Regulated Navigation Area, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL.

§ 165.923 Safety Zone and Regulated Navigation Area, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 83 FR 34045, July 19, 2018.

(a) Safety ZoneRegulated navigation area and regulations.

(1) The following area is a safety zoneregulated navigation area (RNA): All waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL located between mile marker 296295.1 5 and mile marker 296297.72.

(2) Regulations.

(i) (i) The general regulations contained in § 165.13 apply.

(ii) Vessels that comply with the following restrictions are permitted to transit the RNA:

(A) Vessels must be greater than 20 feet in length.

(B) Vessels must not be a personal or human powered watercraft (i.e., jet skis, waver runners, kayaks, row boats, etc.).

(C) Vessels engaged in commercial service, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(5), may not pass (meet or overtake) in the RNA and must make a SECURITÉ call when approaching the RNA to announce intentions and work out passing arrangements.

(D) Commercial tows transiting the RNA must use wire rope or appropriate alternatives to ensure electrical connectivity between all segments of the tow.

(E) All vessels are prohibited from loitering in the RNA.

(F) Vessels may enter the RNA for the sole purpose of transiting

the safety zone with

to the other side and must maintain headway throughout the transit. All vessels and persons are prohibited from dredging, laying cable, dragging, fishing, conducting salvage operations, or any other activity, which could disturb the bottom of the RNA.

(G) Except for law enforcement and emergency response personnel, all personnel on vessels transiting the RNA should remain inside the cabin, or as inboard as practicable. If personnel must be on open decks, they must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

(H) Vessels may not moor or lay up on the right or left descending banks of the RNA.

(I) Towboats may not make or break tows if any portion of the towboat or tow is located in the RNA.

(J) Persons onboard any vessel transiting the RNA in accordance with this rule or otherwise are advised they do so at their own risk.

(K) All vessels transiting the RNA are required to transit at a no wake speed but still maintain bare steerageway.

(L)

(1) All vessels are prohibited from transiting the restricted navigation area with any non-potable water on board if they intend to release that water in any form within, or on the other side of the

safety zone

restricted navigation area. Non-potable water includes, but is not limited to, any water taken on board to control or maintain trim, draft, stability, or stresses of the vessel. Likewise, it includes any water taken on board due to free communication between the hull of the vessel and exterior water. Potable water is water treated and stored aboard the vessel that is suitable for human consumption.

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2) Vessels with non-potable water

onboard

on board are permitted to transit the

safety zone

restricted navigation area if they have taken steps to prevent the release, in any form, of that water in or on the other side of the

safety zone

restricted navigation area. Alternatively, vessels with non-potable water

onboard

on board are permitted to transit the

safety zone

restricted navigation area if they have plans to dispose of the water in a biologically sound manner.

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3) Vessels with non-potable water aboard that intend to discharge on the other side of the

zone

restricted navigation area must contact the Coast Guard's Ninth District Commander or his or her designated representatives prior to transit and obtain permission to transit and discharge. Examples of discharges that may be approved include plans to dispose of the water in a biologically sound manner or demonstrate through testing that the non-potable water does not contain potential live Silver or Asian carp, viable eggs, or gametes.

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4) In accordance with the general regulations in § 165.23

of this part

, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within this safety zone by vessels with non-potable water on board is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard's Ninth District Commander, his or her designated representatives, or an on-scene representative.

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5) The Captain of the Port,

Sector

Lake Michigan, may further designate an “on-scene” representative. The Captain of the Port,

Sector

Lake Michigan, or the on-scene representative may be contacted via VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or through the Coast Guard

Sector

Lake Michigan Command Center at [phone].

(b) Regulated Navigation Area.

(1) The following is a regulated navigation area (RNA): all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL located between mile marker 295.5 and mile marker 297.2.

(2) Regulations.

(i) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 165.13 apply.

(ii) Vessels that comply with the following restrictions are permitted to transit the RNA:

(A) Vessels must be greater than 20 feet in length.

(B) Vessels must not be a personal or human powered watercraft (i.e. jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, row boats, etc.).

(C) All up-bound and down-bound barge tows that consist of barges carrying flammable liquid cargos (Grade A through C, flashpoint below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or heated to within 15 degrees Fahrenheit of flash point) must engage the services of a bow boat at all times until the entire tow is clear of the RNA.

(D) Vessels engaged in commercial service, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(5), may not pass (meet or overtake) in the RNA and must make a SECURITE call when approaching the RNA to announce intentions and work out passing arrangements.

(E) Commercial tows transiting the RNA must be made up with only wire rope to ensure electrical connectivity between all segments of the tow.

(F) All vessels are prohibited from loitering in the RNA.

(G) Vessels may enter the RNA for the sole purpose of transiting to the other side and must maintain headway throughout the transit. All vessels and persons are prohibited from dredging, laying cable, dragging, fishing, conducting salvage operations, or any other activity, which could disturb the bottom of the RNA.

(H) Except for law enforcement and emergency response personnel, all personnel on vessels transiting the RNA should remain inside the cabin, or as inboard as practicable. If personnel must be on open decks, they must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

(I) Vessels may not moor or lay up on the right or left descending banks of the RNA.

(J) Towboats may not make or break tows if any portion of the towboat or tow is located in the RNA.

(K) Persons on board any vessel transiting this RNA in accordance with this rule or otherwise are advised they do so at their own risk.

(c)

Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:

Bow boat means a towing vessel capable of providing positive control of the bow of a tow containing one or more barges, while transiting the RNA. The bow boat must be capable of preventing a tow containing one or more barges from coming into contact with the shore and other moored vessels.

Designated representative means the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan and Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Unit Chicago.

On-scene representative means any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port,

Sector

Lake Michigan, to act on his or her behalf. The on-scene representative of the Captain of the Port,

Sector

Lake Michigan, will be aboard a Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, or other designated vessel or will be

on shore

onshore and will communicate with vessels via VHF-FM radio or loudhailer.

Vessel means every description of watercraft

or

of other artificial contrivance used, or capable or being used, as a means of transportation on water. This definition includes, but is not limited to, barges.

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c) Compliance. All persons and vessels must comply with this section and any additional instructions or orders of the Coast Guard's Ninth District Commander or his or her designated representatives. Any person on board any vessel transiting this RNA in accordance with this rule or otherwise does so at his or her own risk.

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d) Waiver. For any vessel, the Coast Guard's Ninth

Coast

District Commander or his or her designated representatives may waive any of the requirements of this section, upon finding that operational conditions or other circumstances are such that application of this section is unnecessary or impractical for the purposes of vessel and mariner safety.

[USCG-20112017-11081095, 76 83 FR 77124, Dec. 12, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 42015, July 15, 201334045, July 19, 2018]