This subpart prescribes requirements for the establishment and maintenance of two mandatory ship reporting systems for the protection of the endangered northern right whale (also known as the North Atlantic right whale). These two systems are designated for certain areas of the East Coast of the United States. One system is located in the northeast and is identified as WHALESNORTH. The other system is located in the southeast and is identified as WHALESSOUTH.

The U.S. Coast Guard is the shore-based authority for these mandatory ship reporting systems.

Geographical boundaries of the northeastern area include the waters of Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and the Great South Channel east and southeast of Massachusetts. The coordinates (NAD 83) of the area are as follows: from a point on Cape Ann, Massachusetts at 42°39′ N, 70°37′ W; then northeast to 42°45′ N, 70°13′ W; then southeast to 42°10′ N, 68°31′ W; then south to 41°00′ N, 68°31′ W; then west to 41°00′ N, 69°17′ W; then northeast to 42°05′ N, 70°02′ W, then west to 42°04′ N, 70°10′ W; and then along the Massachusetts shoreline of Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay back to the point on Cape Anne at 42°39′ N, 70°37′ W.

The mandatory ship reporting system in the northeastern United States operates year-round.

Geographical boundaries of the southeastern area include coastal waters within about 25 nautical miles (45 kilometer) along a 90-nautical mile (170-kilometer) stretch of the Atlantic seaboard in Florida and Georgia. The area coordinates (NAD 83) extends from the shoreline east to longitude 80°51.6′ W with the southern and northern boundaries at latitude 30°00′ N and 31°27′ N, respectively.

The mandatory ship reporting system in the southeastern United States operates during the period beginning on November 15 each year through April 16 of the following year.

Each self-propelled ship of 300 gross tons or greater must participate in the reporting systems, except government ships exempted from reporting by regulation V/8-1(c) of SOLAS. However, exempt ships are encouraged to participate in the reporting systems.

Participating ships must report to the shore-based authority upon entering the area covered by a reporting system. Additional reports are not necessary for movements made within a system or for ships exiting a system.

(a) A ship equipped with INMARSAT C must report in IMO standard format as provided in § 169.140 in table 169.140.

(b) A ship not equipped with INMARSAT C must report to the Coast Guard using other means, listed below in order of precedence—

(1) By email to [email protected];

(2) HF voice communication; or

(3) VHF voice communications.

(c) HF reports made directly to the Coast Guard's Communications Command (COMMCOM) in Chesapeake, VA, or VHF reports made to Coast Guard shore units, should only be made by ships not equipped with INMARSAT C. Ships in this category must provide all the required information to the Coast Guard watchstander.

Each ship report made to the shore-based authority must follow the standard reporting and format requirements listed in this section in table 169.140. Current email addresses and telex numbers are published annually in the US Coast Pilot.