33 C.F.R. § 161.60

Current through September 30, 2024
Section 161.60 - Vessel Traffic Service Prince William Sound
(a) The VTS area consists of the navigable waters of the United States north of a line drawn from Cape Hinchinbrook Light to Schooner Rock Light, comprising that portion of Prince William Sound between 146°30' W. and 147°20' W. and includes Valdez Arm, Valdez Narrows and Port Valdez.
(b) The Valdez Arm VTS Special Area consists of the waters of the Valdez Arm Traffic Separation Scheme (described in § 167.1703 of this chapter); the waters northeast of a line drawn from shoreline to shoreline through the points 60°58.04' N, 146°46.52' W and 60°58.93' N, 146°48.86' W; and southwest of a line bearing 307° True from Tongue Point at 61°02.10' N, 146°40.00' W.
(c) The Valdez Narrows VTS Special Area consists of those waters of Valdez Arm, Valdez Narrows, and Port Valdez northeast of a line bearing 307° True from Tongue Point at 61°02'06" N., 146°40' W.; and southwest of a line bearing 307° True from Entrance Island Light at 61°05'06" N., 146°36'42" W.
(d) Additional VTS Special Area Operating Requirements. The following additional requirements are applicable in the Valdez Narrows VTS Special Area:
(1) No VMRS User shall proceed north of 61° N. without prior approval of the VTS.
(2) For a vessel listed in paragraph (d)(3) of this section-
(i) Approval to enter this area will not be granted to a vessel when a tank vessel of more than 20,000 deadweight tons is navigating therein;
(ii) A northbound vessel shall remain south of 61° N. until the VTS has granted permission to proceed; and
(iii) A southbound vessel shall remain in Port Valdez east of 146°35' W. and north of 61°06' N. until the VTS has granted permission to proceed.
(3) Paragraph (d)(2) of this section applies to-
(i) A vessel of 1600 gross tons or more; and
(ii) A towing vessel of 8 meters or more in length, except for a vessel performing duties as an escort vessel as defined in 33 CFR Part 168.
(e) Reporting Points.

Table 161.60(d)-VTS Prince William Sound Reporting Points

DesignatorGeographic nameGeographic descriptionLatitude/longitudeNotes
1ACape HinchinbrookCape Hinchinbrook60°16'18" N; 146°45'30" WNorthbound Only.
1BSchooner RockSchooner Rock60°18'42" N; 146°51'36" WSouthbound Only.
2ANaked IslandNaked Island60°40'00" N; 147°01'24" WNorthbound Only.
2BNaked IslandNaked Island60°40'00" N; 147°05'00" WSouthbound Only.
3ABligh ReefBligh Reef Light (Pilot Embark)60°50'36" N; 146°57'30" WNorthbound Only.
3BBligh ReefBligh Reef Light (Pilot Disembark)60°51'00" N; 147°01'24" WSouthbound Only.
4ARocky PointRocky Point60°57'48" N; 146°47'30" WNorthbound Only.
4BRocky PointRocky Point60°57'48" N; 146°50'00" WSouthbound Only.
5Entrance IslandEntrance Island Light61°05'24" N; 146°37'30" W.

33 C.F.R. §161.60

CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-033, 60 FR 28332, May 31, 1995; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 35532, June 30, 1998; USCG-2001-10254, 67 FR 53742, Aug. 19, 2002; USCG-2015-0433, 80 FR 44282, July 27, 2015; USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22948, Apr. 3, 2024
USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22948, 4/3/2024