ORGANIC LAWS GOVERNING U.S. COAST GUARD 31 



shall be as prescribed by the Commandant, United States Coast Guard. 

 (R.S. § 4233; Mar. 3, 1893, c. 202, 27 Stat. 557; Feb. 19, 1895, c. 102, 

 § 1, 28 Stat. 672 ; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101-104, eff. July 16, 1946, 

 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; May 21, 1948, c. 328, §4, 62 Stat. 250.) 



Establishment of special rules; publication; hearings 



33 U.S.C. 353 (R.S. 4233A) 



(a) The Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is 

 operating shall establish such rules to be observed, on the waters 

 described in section 301 of this title, by steam vessels in passing each 

 other and as to the lights and day signals to be carried on such waters 

 by ferryboats, by vessels and craft of all types when in tow of steam 

 vessels or operating by hand power or horsepower or drifting with 

 the current, and by any other vessels not otherwise provided for, noti 

 inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as he from time to time 

 may deem necessai-y for safety, which rules are declared special rules 

 duly made by local authority. A pamphlet containing such Act and 

 regulations shall be furnished to all vessels and craft subject to this 

 Act. On vessels and craft over sixty-five feet in length the pamphlet 

 shall, where practicable, be kept on board and available for ready 

 reference. 



(b) Except in an emergency, before any rules or any alteration, 

 amendment, or repeal thereof, are established by the Secretary under 

 the provisions of this section, the said Secretary shall publish the pro- 

 posed rules, alterations, amendments, or repeals, and public hearings 

 shall be held with respect thereto on such notice as the Secretary deems 

 reasonable mider the circumstances. (As amended Aug. 14, 1958, 

 Public Law 85-656, § 2, 72 Stat. 612.) 



Delegation of Functions 



The following Treasury Department Order 167-33 (23 F.R. 7592) 

 was issued by the Acting Secretary of the Treasury under date of 

 September 23, 1958 : 



By virtue of the authority vested in me by Reorganization Plan 

 No. 26 of 1950, and by 14 U.S.C. 631, there are transferred to the 

 Commandant, II.S. Coast Guard, the functions of the Secretary of tlie 

 Treasury under Public Law 85-656 (72 Stat. 612, 613) relating to 

 Pilot Rules for Certain Inland Waters and Pilot Rules for Western 

 Rivers. 



The Commandant may make provision for the performance by sub- 

 ordinates in the Coast Guard of any of the functions transferred 

 except the functions of prescribing rules and regulations. 



Exemption of Navy and Coast Guard vessels from compliance 

 with International Rules of the Road 



33 U.S.C. 356 



Wliere any Navy or Coast Guard vessel of special construction, as 

 certified to by the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of the 

 Treasury in the case of Coast Guard vessels operating under the 

 Treasury Department, or such official or officials as either may desig- 

 nate, is now or may hereafter by virtue of statute, convention, or treaty, 



