(a) This subpart establishes a special load line regime under which certain unmanned, river-service, dry-cargo barges may be exempted from the normal Great Lakes load line requirements while operating on certain Lake Michigan routes. Depending upon the route, the barge may only need a limited service domestic voyage load line, or may be conditionally exempted from load line assignment.

(b) Except as provided in this subpart, barges operating on Lake Michigan must have either an international load line assignment issued in accordance with the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended, or a Great Lakes load line assignment issued in accordance with the requirements of this part.

(c) The requirements of this subpart are summarized in table 45.171:

[USCG-1998-4623, 67 FR 19690, Apr. 23, 2002, as amended at 75 FR 70601, Nov. 18, 2010; 75 FR 78928, Dec. 17, 2010; 76 FR 32326, June 6, 2011]