Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 6552

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 15, April 12, 2024

Section 6552 - Definitions

As used in Articles 4 and 5:

(a) "Approved" means approved by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

(b) "Barge" means any nonself-propelled vessel.

(c) "Carrying passengers for hire" means the carriage of a person by a vessel for a valuable consideration, whether directly or indirectly flowing to the owner, charterer, operator, agent, or any other person interested in the vessel.

(d) "Ferry" includes a vessel having provisions only for deck passengers and/or vehicles, operating on a short run on a frequent schedule between two points over the most direct water route, and offering a public service of a type normally attributed to a bridge or tunnel. "Ferry" does not include a vessel navigating the water of the ocean.

(e) "Fire extinguisher" means a marine-type fire extinguisher, as approved by the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

(f) "High Seas" means:

(1) Crescent City Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Crescent City Entrance Light to the southeasternmost extremity of Whaler Island.

(2) Arcata-Humboldt Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Humboldt Bay Entrance Light 4 to Humboldt Bay Entrance Light 3.

(3) Noyo River. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Noyo River Entrance Daybeacon 4 to Noyo River Entrance Light 5.

(4) Albion River. Those waters outside of a line drawn on an axis of 030 true through Albion River Light 1 across Albion Cove.

(5) Bodega Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from the seaward extremity of Bodega Harbor North Breakwater to Bodega Harbor Entrance Light 1.

(6) Tomales Bay. Those waters outside of an east-west line drawn from Sand Point to Avalis Beach.

(7) San Francisco Harbor. Those waters outside of a straight line drawn from Point Bonita Light through Mile Rocks Light to the shore.

(8) Pillar Point Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Pillar Point Harbor Light 6 to Pillar Point Harbor Entrance Light.

(9) Santa Cruz Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from the seaward extremity of the Santa Cruz Harbor East Breakwater to Santa Cruz Harbor West Breakwater Light; thence to Santa Cruz Light.

(10) Moss Landing Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from the seaward extremity of the pier located 0.3 mile south of Moss Landing Harbor entrance to the seaward extremity of the Moss Landing Harbor North Breakwater.

(11) Monterey Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Monterey Harbor Light 6 to the northern extremity of Monterey Municipal Wharf 2.

(12) Estero-Morro Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from the seaward extremity of the Morro Bay East Breakwater to the Morro Bay West Breakwater Light.

(13) San Luis Obispo Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from the southernmost extremity of Fossil Point to the seaward extremity of Whaler Island Breakwater.

(14) Santa Barbara Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Santa Barbara Harbor Light 4 to Santa Barbara Harbor Breakwater Light.

(15) Ventura Marina. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Ventura Marina South Jetty Light 6 to Ventura Marina Breakwater South Light 3; thence to Ventura Marina North Jetty Light 7.

(16) Channel Islands Harbor.

(A) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Channel Islands Harbor South Jetty Light 2 to Channel Islands Harbor Breakwater South Light 1.

(B) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Channel Islands Harbor Breakwater North Light to Channel Islands Harbor North Jetty Light 5.

(17) Port Hueneme. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Port Hueneme East Jetty Light 4 to Port Hueneme West Jetty Light 3.

(18) Marina del Rey.

(A) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Marina del Rey Breakwater South Light 1 to Marina del Rey Light 4.

(B) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Marina del Rey Breakwater North Light 2 to Marina del Rey Light 3.

(C) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Marina del Rey Light 4 to the seaward extremity of the Ballona Creek South Jetty.

(19) Redondo Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Redondo Beach East Jetty Light 2 to Redondo Beach West Jetty Light 3.

(20) San Pedro Bay-Anaheim Bay.

(A) Those waters outside of a line drawn across the seaward extremities of Anaheim Bay Entrance Jetties; thence to Long Beach Breakwater East End Light 1.

(B) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Long Beach Channel Entrance Light 2 to Long Beach Light.

(C) Those waters outside of a line drawn from Los Angeles Main Entrance Channel Light 2 to Los Angeles Light.

(21) Newport Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Newport Bay East Jetty Light 4 to Newport Bay West Jetty Light 3.

(22) Santa Catalina Island. Those waters within the harbors of Santa Catalina Island.

(23) Dana Point Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Dana Point Jetty Light 6 to Dana Point Breakwater Light 5.

(24) Oceanside Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Oceanside South Jetty Light 4 to Oceanside Breakwater Light 3.

(25) Mission Bay. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Mission Bay South Jetty Light 2 to Mission Bay North Jetty Light 1.

(26) San Diego Harbor. Those waters outside of a line drawn from Zuniga Jetty Light "V" to Zuniga Jetty Light "Z"; thence to Point Loma Light.

(27) Other Entrances. At all buoyed entrances from seaward to bays, sounds, rivers, or other estuaries for which specific lines are not described in this section, the waters outside of a line approximately parallel with the general trend of the shore, drawn through the outermost buoy or buoys or other aid to navigation of any system of aids.

(g) "Inland Waters" means any waters within the territorial limits of California other than those that are defined in Section 6552(f) of these regulations as the "high seas."

(h) "Machinery" includes an inboard or outboard engine and any other type of motor or mechanical device capable of propelling a vessel.

(i) "Nonself-propelled vessel" means a vessel without sufficient means for self-propulsion and is required to be towed.

(j) "Operator" means the person who operates or who has charge of the navigation or use of a vessel.

(k) "Passenger" means every person, other than the master and a member of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a vessel in the business of that vessel.

(l) "Power driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(m) "Sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

(n) "Ship's lifeboat" means a lifeboat used solely for lifesaving purposes and does not include dinghies, tenders, speedboats, or other types of craft carried aboard a vessel and used for other than lifesaving purposes.

(o) "Whistle" means any sound signaling appliance capable of producing the prescribed blasts.

(p) "Boat" means any vessel which is any of the following:

(1) Manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use.

(2) Leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's noncommercial use.

(3) Engaged in the carrying of six or fewer passengers, including those for-hire vessels carrying more than three passengers while using inland waters of the state that are not declared navigable by the United States Coast Guard.

(4) Commercial vessels required to be numbered pursuant to Section 9850 of the Vehicle Code.

(q) "Vessel" includes every description of water craft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water;

(r) "Seaplane" includes any aircraft designed to maneuver on the water.

(s) "Vessel engaged in fishing" means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus which restricts maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict maneuverability;

(t) "Vessel not under command" means a vessel which, through some exceptional circumstance, is unable to maneuver as required by these Rules, and is, therefore, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

(u) "Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" means a vessel which, from the nature of her work, is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by these Rules, and is, therefore, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel; vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver include, but are not limited to:

(1) A vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable, or pipeline;

(2) A vessel engaged in dredging, surveying, or underwater operations;

(3) A vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions, or cargo while underway;

(4) A vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;

(5) A vessel engaged in minesweeping operations; and

(6) A vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

(v) "Underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

(w) "Length" and "breadth" of a vessel mean her length overall and greatest breadth.

(x) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

(y) "Restricted visibility" means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 6552

1. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 10-13-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No. 42).
2. Amendment filed 1-18-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 4).
3. Amendment filed 8-26-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 35).
4. Amendment filed 4-26-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 17).
5. Amendment filed 1-28-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 5).
6. Editorial correction of NOTE filed 10-11-85 (Register 85, No. 41).
7. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 8-28-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 35).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 652 and 655.3, Harbors and Navigation Code. Reference: Sections 650, 652 and 655.3, Harbors and Navigation Code.