Question 16 RVR05 - Master of LT 100 GRT

The Correct Answer is B **Explanation for B (The Mississippi River System):** The Inland Navigation Rules (33 CFR Subchapter E, specifically Part 89 which defines Inland Waters) apply to all waters shoreward of the established demarcation lines (COLREG Demarcation Lines). The Mississippi River System, including the Western Rivers (as defined in 33 CFR 89.25), is explicitly designated as Inland Waters for the purpose of the Inland Navigation Rules. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:** * **A) The Great Lakes in their entirety:** The Great Lakes are considered Inland Waters, but only shoreward of the established demarcation lines (where they meet connecting rivers or international boundaries). Crucially, the western part of Lake Superior is governed by the Western Rivers rules, while the rest are governed by the general Inland Rules. Stating "in their entirety" is often too broad, and more importantly, the Great Lakes have specific applicability rules that differ somewhat from the standard Inland/International demarcation system used on the coasts, making this option less definitively correct than the explicitly designated and unified system like the Mississippi. However, the primary reason this is not the best answer is that the Mississippi River System is a clearer, unifying example of Inland Waters under the rules. * **C) U.S. waters out to three miles offshore:** This area (the Territorial Sea) is generally considered **International Waters** (governed by COLREG/International Rules) for navigation purposes, not Inland Waters. Inland Waters stop at the established COLREG Demarcation Lines, which are typically much closer to shore (often at harbor entrances, jetties, or specific navigational aids) and rarely extend the full three miles. * **D) The St. Lawrence River to Anticosti Island:** The boundary between Inland and International Waters in the St. Lawrence River is set much further upstream than Anticosti Island (which is near the river's entrance into the Gulf of St. Lawrence). The demarcation line for the St. Lawrence River is near a line between Cap des Rosiers and Pointe Menier, but generally, the river far downstream, where Anticosti Island is located, is considered **International Waters** governed by the COLREGs.