Sec. 80.951  Applicability.

    The Agreement Between the United States of America and Canada for 
Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, 1973, applies 
to vessels of all countries when navigated on the Great Lakes. The Great 
Lakes Radio Agreement defines the Great Lakes as ``all waters of Lakes 
Ontario, Erie, Huron (including Georgian Bay), Michigan, Superior, their 
connecting and tributary waters and the River St. Lawrence as far east 
as the lower exit of the St. Lambert Lock at Montreal in the Province of 
Quebec, Canada,'' but does not include such of the connecting and 
tributary waters as may be specified in the Technical Regulations. The 
Technical Regulations do not include any connecting and tributary waters 
except the St. Mary's River, the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the 
Detroit River and the Welland Canal. A vessel to which the Great Lakes 
Radio Agreement applies and which falls into the specific categories by 
paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this section and not excepted by paragraph 
(d) or (e) of this section must comply with this subpart while navigated 
on the Great Lakes.
    (a) Every vessel 20 meters (65 feet) or over in length (measured 
from end to end over the deck, exclusive of sheer).
    (b) Every vessel engaged in towing another vessel or floating 
object, except:
    (1) Where the maximum length of the towing vessel, measured from end 
to end over the deck exclusive of sheer, is less than 8 meters (26 feet) 
and the length or breadth of the tow, exclusive of the towing line, is 
less than 20 meters (65 feet);
    (2) Where the vessel towed complies with this subpart;
    (3) Where the towing vessel and tow are located within a booming 
ground (an area in which logs are confined); or
    (4) Where the tow has been undertaken in an emergency and neither 
the towing vessel nor the tow can comply with this part.
    (c) Any vessel carrying more than six passengers for hire.
    (d) The requirements of the Great Lakes Radio Agreement do not apply 
to:
    (1) Ships of war and troop ships;
    (2) Vessels owned and operated by any national government and not 
engaged in trade.
    (e) The Commission may if it considers that the conditions of the 
voyage or voyages affecting safety (including but not necessarily 
limited to the regularity, frequency and nature of the voyages, or other 
circumstances) are such as to render full application of the Great Lakes 
Agreement unreasonable or unnecessary, exempt partially, conditionally 
or completely, any individual vessel for one or more voyages or

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for any period of time not exceeding one year.