Question 22 TV03 - Towing Vessels - Western Rivers

The Correct Answer is C 1. **Explanation for Option C (Correct Answer):** The Inland Rules of the Road define the "Great Lakes" specifically for navigational purposes within the United States. According to 33 CFR § 89.25, the Great Lakes are defined as "Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, and their connecting and tributary waters." The St. Lawrence River, particularly the portion extending far downstream toward Trois-Rivières (which is near the tidal boundary and deep into Quebec, Canada), is outside of the jurisdiction and definition used by the Inland Rules for the Great Lakes. Once a vessel leaves Lake Ontario and proceeds down the St. Lawrence Seaway, the rules applicable often transition to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) in certain designated waters, or specific Canadian domestic regulations, rather than the U.S. Inland Rules' definition of the Great Lakes. 2. **Explanation for Option A (Incorrect):** Portions of the Calumet River are incorrect because the definition of the Great Lakes used by the Inland Rules explicitly includes their "connecting and tributary waters." The Calumet River flows into Lake Michigan and is thus considered a tributary/connecting water for regulatory purposes under the Inland Rules. 3. **Explanation for Option B (Incorrect):** Saginaw Bay, Michigan, is incorrect because it is a large bay forming a distinct part of Lake Huron. Since Lake Huron is one of the primary Great Lakes, the waters of Saginaw Bay fall directly under the regulatory definition. 4. **Explanation for Option D (Incorrect):** Portions of the Chicago River are incorrect because, similar to the Calumet River, the Chicago River flows into Lake Michigan (a primary Great Lake). Therefore, it is classified as a "connecting and tributary water" and is included in the Inland Rules' definition of the Great Lakes.