Except as provided in 33 CFR 164.15, when the automatic pilot is used in—

1. (a) Areas of high traffic density;
2. (b) Conditions of restricted visibility; and

3. (c) All other hazardous navigational situations, the master shall ensure that—

   1. (1) It is possible to immediately establish human control of the ship's steering:
   2. (2) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and
   3. (3) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer of the watch.

[CGFR 75-074, 42 FR 5964, Jan. 17, 1977]