33 CFR § 401.40 - Entering, exiting or position in lock.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s401.40"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 401.40 - Entering, exiting or position in lock."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "401.40"
section_name: "Entering, exiting or position in lock."
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"
---


# 401.40 Entering, exiting or position in lock.

(a) Unless directed by the Manager and the Corporation, no vessel shall proceed into a lock in such a manner that the stem passes the stop symbol on the lock wall nearest the closed gates.

(b) On being cast off in a lock, no vessel shall be allowed to fall back in such a manner that the stern passes the stop symbol on the lock wall nearest the closed gates.

(c) Every vessel proceeding into a lock shall be positioned and moored as directed by the officer in charge of the mooring operation.

(d) Vessel Self Spotting (VSS) displays at the Canadian Locks are meant to assist vessels to spot positions of the vessel's stem in the lock. The VSS display does not relive the Master of the responsibility of ensuring that the vessel's stem does not pass the stop symbol marked on the Lock wall as required in paragraph (a) of this section by using its own spotting method such as visual sport by vessel's crew.

(e) No vessel shall use thrusters when passing a lock gate or a Hands Free Mooring (HFM) unit.

[45 FR 52378, Aug. 7, 1980, and 47 FR 51122, Nov. 12, 1982, as amended at 48 FR 20691, May 9, 1983; 72 FR 2620, Jan. 22, 2007; 73 FR 9954, Feb. 25, 2008; 76 FR 13089, Mar. 10, 2011; 88 FR 14268, Mar. 8, 2023; 91 FR 12692, Mar. 17, 2026]