Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980
Public Law 96-591 · H.R. 6671 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 24, 1980 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-NY-10)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. William Hughes
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Senate receded from certain amendment)
Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 - Establishes navigational rules applicable to all vessels upon the inland waters of the United States, including vessels of the United States on the Candian waters of the Great Lakes to the extent that there is no conflict with Canadian law. Specifies that this Act shall not interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Secretary of the Navy with respect to specified station or signal lights.
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to determine whether a vessel complies with this Act regarding the number, position, range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes as well as the characteristics of sound- signaling appliances. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to determine such compliance for vessels of the Navy.
Allows the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to accept a certificate of alternative compliance issued by a contracting party to the International Regulations.
Makes any vessel or the owner, master, or crew thereof, responsible for failure to comply with this Act or for failure to take any precautions which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the circumstances of the case.
Sets forth comprehensive rules governing the steering, speed, and sailing of vessels, lights affixed to vessels, and sound and light signals required aboard vessels.
Exempts certain vessels from specified provisions of this Act.
Directs the Secretary to establish certain technical annexes to this Act.
Makes violators of this Act liable for civil penalties in district court, to be assessed by the Secretary.
Empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold or revoke the clearance of any vessel, the owner or operator of which is subject to the penalties of this Act. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to establish, for five years, a Rules of the Road Advisory Council. Requires such Council to make recommendations relating to this Act to the Secretary.
Amends the International Navigational Rules Act of 1977 to exempt vessels which are in inland waters of the United States.
Repeals certain Federal law concerning inland navigation.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred to
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Dec 24, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-591.
- Dec 12, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 8, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from certain amendment.
- Dec 3, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House insisted on its disagreement to certain Senate amendment.
- Nov 19, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to certain Senate amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments.
- Sep 30, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 22, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 24, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 23, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 3, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.