33 CFR § 401.31 - Meeting and passing.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s401.31"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 401.31 - Meeting and passing."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "401.31"
section_name: "Meeting and passing."
chapter_name: "GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "401"
part_name: "SEAWAY REGULATIONS AND RULES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
cfr_part: "401"
---


# 401.31 Meeting and passing.

(a) The meeting and passing of vessels shall be governed by the Collision Regulations of Canada and the Inland Rules of the United States.

(b) No vessel shall meet another vessel within the area between the caution signs at bridges or within any area that is designated as a no meeting area by the Manager or the Corporation.

(c) Except as instructed by the traffic controller, no vessel shall overtake and pass or attempt to overtake and pass another vessel—

(1) In any canal;

(2) Within 600 m of a canal or lock entrance; or

(3) After the order of passing through has been established by the vessel traffic controller.

[39 FR 10900, Mar. 22, 1974, as amended at 45 FR 52378, Aug. 7, 1980; 49 FR 30936, Aug. 2, 1984; 55 FR 48599, Nov. 21, 1990; 65 FR 52915, Aug. 31, 2000; 73 FR 9953, Feb. 25, 2008; 90 FR 1883, Jan. 10, 2025]