An Act to amend the inland and western rivers rules concerning anchor lights and fog signals required in special anchorage areas, and for other purposes.
PL 88-84 (S.1036), enacted 08/05/1963

116 
PUBLIC LAW 88-84-AUG. 5, 1963 
[77 
STAT. 
Public Law 88-84 
August 5, 1963 
[S. 1036] 
Anchored ves-
sels. 
Lights and fog 
signals, require-
ments. 
54 Stat. 150-
AN ACT 
Special anchor-
age areas. 
30 Stat. 99. 
To amend the inland and western rivers rules concerning anchor lights and fog 
signals required in special anchorage areas, and for other puri)oses. 
Be it enoLcted hy the Senate and Rouse of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That article 11 of 
section 1 of the Act of June 7, 1897, as amended (33 U.S.C. 180), is 
further amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 11. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this article, 
a vessel under one hundred and fifty feet in length when at anchor 
shall carry forward, where it can best be seen, a white light in a lantern 
so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible 
all around the horizon at a distance of at least two miles. 
"(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this article, a vessel 
of one hundred and fifty feet or upward in length, when at anchor, 
shall carry in the forward part of the vessel, at a height of not less 
than twenty feet above the hull, one such light, and at or near the 
stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it shall be not less than 
fifteen feet lower than the forward light, another such li^ht. 
"(c) The Secretary of the Army may, after investigation, by rule, 
regulation, or order, designate such areas as he may deem proper as 
'special anchorage areas'; such special anchorage areas may from 
time to time be changed, or abolished, if after investigation the Sec-
retary of the Army shall deem such change or abolition in the interest 
of navigation. When anchored within such an area— 
"(1) a vessel of not more than sixty-five feet in length shall not 
be required to carry or exhibit the white light required by this 
article; 
"(2) a barge, canal boat, scow, or other nondescript craft of 
one hundred and fifty feet or upward in length may carry and 
exhibit the single white light prescribed by paragraph (a) of this 
article in lieu of the two white lights prescribed by paragraph 
(b) of this article; and 
" (3) where two or more barges, canal boats, scows, or other non-
descript craft are tied together and anchored as a unit, the anchor 
light prescribed by this article need be displayed only on the vessel 
having its anchor down." 
SEC. 2. Subparagraph (d) of article 15 of section 1 of the Act of 
June 7, 1897 (33 U.S.C. 191), is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) A vessel when at anchor shall, at intervals of not more than one 
minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds, except that the fol-
lowing vessels shall not be required to sound this signal when anchored 
in a special anchorage area established pursuant to paragraph (c) of 
article 11: 
"(1) a vessel of not more than sixty-five feet in length; and 
" (2) a barge, canal boat, scow, or other nondescript craft." 
SEC. 3. The rule numbered 13 in section 4233 of the Revised Stat-
utes, as amended (33 U.S.C. 322), is further amended to read as 
follows: 
"RULE NUMBERED 13. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of 
this rule, a vessel under one hundred and fifty feet in length, when at 
anchor, shall carry forward, where it can best be seen, a white light in 
a lantern so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken 
light visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least two miles. 
"(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this rule, a vessel of 
one hundred and fifty feet or upward in length, when at anchor, shall 
carry in the forward part of the vessel, at a height of not less than 
twenty feet above the hull, one such light, and at or near the stern of 
77 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 88-85-AUG.5, 1963 
117 
the vessel, at such a height that it shall be not less than fifteen feet 
lower than the forward light, another such light. 
"(c) The Secretary of the Army may, after investigation, by rule, 
special anchoi-
regulation, or order, designate such areas as he may deem proper as ^^^ ^'•«^^' 
'special anchorage areas'; such special anchorage areas may from time 
to time be changed, or abolished, if after investigation the Secretary 
of the Army shall deem such change or abolition in the interests of 
navigation. When anchored within such an area— 
" (1) a vessel of not more than sixty-five feet in len^h shall not 
be required to carry or exhibit the white light required by this 
rule; 
"(2) a barge, canal boat, scow, or other nondescript craft of one 
hundred and fifty feet or upward in length may carry and exhibit 
the single white light prescribed bj^ paragraph (a) of this rule in 
lieu of the two white lights prescribed by paragraph (b) of this 
rule; and 
"(3) where two or more barges, canal boats, scows, or other non-
descript craft are tied together and anchored as a unit, the anchor 
light prescribed by this rule need be displayed only on the vessel 
having its anchor down." 
SEC. 4. Subparagraph (d) of rule numbered 15 in section 4233 of 
the Revised Statutes, as amended (33 IT.S.C. 331), is further amended 
to read as follows: 
"(d) A vessel when at anchor shall, at intervals of not more than one 
minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds, except that the 
following vessels shall not be required to sound this signal when 
anchored in a special anchorage area established pursuant to paragraph 
(c) of rule 13: 
" (1^ a vessel of not more than sixty-five feet in length; and 
" (2) a barge, canal boat, scow or other nondescript craft." 
Approved August 5, 1963. 
Public Law 88-85 
AN A C T 
August 5, 1963 
To amend the Act of March 5,1938, establishing a small claims and conciliation 
^^' ^^^J 
branch in the municipal court for the District of Columbia. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assenibled^ That the first 
D. c. 
sentence of subsection (g) of section 5 of the Act entitled "An Act y^^u^fl^};^^' 
establishing a small claims and conciliation branch in the municipal 
court of the District of Columbia for improving the administration of 
justice in small cases and providing assistance to needy litigants, and 
for other purposes", approved March 5, 1938, as amended (52 Stat. 
105; D.C. Code, 1961 edition, sec. 11-805 (g)), is amended by inserting 
after the word "action" a colon and the following: '•''Provided^ That 
where in any case controlled by any other statute a greater or lesser 
time for hearing is specified bv such other statute, such other specified 
j^eriod of time shall he controlling". 
SEC. 2. The second sentence of subsection (g) of section 5 of such 
Act is amended by striking "herein" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"therein". 
Approved August 5, 1963. 
hearing time.