33 CFR § 118.120 - Radar reflectors and racons.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s118.120"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 118.120 - Radar reflectors and racons."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "118.120"
section_name: "Radar reflectors and racons."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "J"
subchapter_name: "BRIDGES"
part_number: "118"
part_name: "BRIDGE LIGHTING AND OTHER SIGNALS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 494; 14 U.S.C. 503, 544; DHS Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 75-046, 40 FR 24898, June 11, 1975, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "118"
---


# 118.120 Radar reflectors and racons.

The District Commander may require or authorize the installation of radar reflectors and racons on bridge structures, stakes, or buoys. Radar reflectors are used to mark the location of the edge of the navigation channel or bridge channel piers. Racons are used to mark the centerline of the channel. The District Commander may authorize the use of Automatic Identification System Aids to Navigation in lieu of or in addition to a racon.

[CGD 84-022, 51 FR 16313, May 2, 1986, as amended by USCG-2005-21869, 80 FR 5330, Jan. 30, 2015]