When a vessel coming under any of the items enumerated below intends to navigate a traffic route, the master ( or any other person who is acting for the master; hereafter the same) shall give the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard an advance report on the estimated time of navigating the traffic route and such other matters as are specified in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance. The same procedure shall be followed in the event of any subsequent change in the matters previously reported.

　

When he deems it necessary for preventing possible danger to ships' traffic incidental to navigation in the traffic routes of those vessels mentioned in each of the items of the preceding Article (hereafter referred to as "huge vessels or other particular vessels"), the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may, as provided for in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance, give the masters of the vessels necessary instructions as to a change in the estimated time of navigation in the traffic routes, arrangements of vessels for guarding the courses or such other matters as related to operation of the vessels.

　

Fire fighting vessels and such other vessels to be employed for performing emergency work as are specified in the Cabinet Order may, when there is unavoidable necessity for carrying out emergency work and when they exhibit the lights or markings as prescribed by the Cabinet Order, navigate or anchor not in conformity with the modes of navigagion provided for in Article 4, Article 5, Article 7 to Article 11 inclusive, Article 13, Article 15, Article 16, Article 18 (excluding Paragraph 4), Article 20 Paragraph 1 or Article 21 Paragraph 1.

2. Vessels engaged in fishing may navigate not in conformity with the modes of navigation provided for in Article 4, Article 6 to Article 9 inclusive, Article 11, Article 13, Article 15, Article 16, Article 18, (excluding Paragraph 4), Article 20 Paragraph 1 or Article 21 Paragraph 1 and may navigate without giving the report prescribed in Article 22 or this Law.

3. Vessels engaged in construction or similar operations with permission obtained under Article 30 Paragraph 1 of this Law (if such permission is not required under Paragraph 8 of the Article, then the permission provided for in Article 31 Paragraph 1 of the Port Regulations Law (including the cases where the same provision shall be applicable mutatis mutandis under Article 37-3 of the Law)) may mavigate or anchor not in conformity with the modes of navigation specified in Article 4, Article 8 to Article 11 inclusive, Article 13, Article 15, Article 16, Article 18 (excluding Paragraph 4), Article 20 Paragraph 1 or Article 21 Paragraph 1, when there is unavoidable necessity for conducting such construction or similar operations and when they exhibit the lights or markings as specified in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance referred to in Article 2 Paragraph 2 item (2) b of this Law.

　

　

When it is considered that navigation of vessels in narrow channels (excluding traffic routes) along the course of the channels, keeping to the starboard side portion of such channels may cause danger or is impracticable due to topography, tidal current, other natural conditions, or ships' traffic circumstances, the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may designate, by Notification of the Japan Coast Guard, tracks (including tracks to enter or leave the narrow channels) which are suitable for the navigation of vessels navigating the narrow channels along the course of the channels.

2. Vessels navigating the channels mentioned in the preceding paragraph along the course of the channels shall, as far as practicable, navigate through the tracks mentioned in the paragraph.

　

　

The Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may, with respect to the sea area where there is danger or threatening danger to ships' traffic due to construction or similar operations or occurrence of obstruction to ships' traffic by sinking of vessels or for other causes, place restrictions, by Notification of the Japan Coast Guard, on vessels or time available for navigation in the sea area for a certain period.

2. When he has placed the restrictions of the preceding paragraph with respect to a traffic route or adjacent area thereof and when he deems it particularly necessary for preventing danger to ships' traffic in the traffic route, the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may provide for such modes of navigation as different from those specified in Article 4, Article 8, Article 9, Article 11, Article 13, Article 15, Article 16, Article 18 (excluding Paragraph 4), Article 20 Paragraph 1 or Article 21 Paragraph 1, by Notification of the Japan Coast Guard, fixing period and section of the traffic route.

3. In the case of the preceding paragraph, when the traffic route mentioned in the paragraph is either Uko East Traffic Route or Uko West Traffic Route, the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may also take the action provided for in the paragraph with respect to Uko West Traffic Route or Uko East Traffic Route, and when the route is either Bisan Seto North Traffic Route or Bisan Seto South Traffic Route, he may take the same action with respect to Bisan Seto South Traffic Route or Bisan Seto North Traffic Route.

　

　

Huge vessels and vessels carrying dangerous cargo shall, while navigating, staying or anchoring, exhibit the lights or markings as prescribed in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance.

2. Vessels other than huge vessels or vessels carrying dangerous cargo shall not exhibit the lights or markings prescribed in the preceding paragraph or any other lights or markings which may be mistaken for the prescribed lights or markings.

　

Vessels under the principal clauses of Article 25 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 5 of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea which are navigating or staying in the traffic route or sea areas specified in the Cabinet Order shall, except when they are exhibiting the prescribed lights under the said provisions or Article 25 Paragraph 3 of the said Law, exhibit, where it can best be seen from all directions, an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light prescribed in those provisions, notwithstanding the provisions of the provisos of Article 25 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 5 of the said Law.

2. Paragraph 7 and the proviso of Paragraph 1 of Article 27 of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to vessels of less than 12 meters in length which are navigating, staying or anchoring in the traffic routes or sea areas specified in the Cabinet Order referred to in the preceding paragraph.

　

The provisions of Article 35 Paragraph 4 of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall apply mutatis mutandis to vessels, other than those engaged in fishing, which are navigating or staying in the traffic routes or sea areas specified in the Cabinet Order referred to in Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, towing or pushing objects other than vessels. (This shall apply only to the case where the distance between the stern of the towing vessel and the rear edge of the objects being towed or between the bow of the pushing vessel and the fore edge of the objects being pushed, is the distance prescribed in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance or more.)

2. Vessels shall not navigate or stay, pushing objects other than vessels unless they exhibit the lights prescribed in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance on such objects: Provided that this shall not apply to the case where illumination or other steps necessary for showing the existence of the objects are taken because it is impossible for the vessels to exhibit the prescribed lights on the objects for unavoidable reasons.