The Inland Rules apply to U.S. vessels on Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.

The Inland Rules apply to U.S. vessels on Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. It depends
• D. Not stated

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is jurisdiction. Inland Rules govern only the inland waters of the United States. They do not extend into foreign waters. The Canadian portion of the Great Lakes falls under Canadian navigation rules, not U.S. Inland Rules. So a U.S.-flag vessel operating in Canadian Great Lakes waters must follow Canadian rules applicable there, not the Inland Rules of the United States. That’s why the statement is false. In practice, you follow the rules that apply to the water you are in, which on the Canadian side means Canadian Inland Rules.

The main idea here is jurisdiction. Inland Rules govern only the inland waters of the United States. They do not extend into foreign waters. The Canadian portion of the Great Lakes falls under Canadian navigation rules, not U.S. Inland Rules. So a U.S.-flag vessel operating in Canadian Great Lakes waters must follow Canadian rules applicable there, not the Inland Rules of the United States. That’s why the statement is false. In practice, you follow the rules that apply to the water you are in, which on the Canadian side means Canadian Inland Rules.