PUBLIC LAW 104-324—OCT. 19, 1996 110 STAT. 3933 "(f) Provided that any number of vessels being towed alongside or pushed in a group shall be lighted as one vessel, except as provided in paragraph (iii)— "(i) a vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, shall exhibit at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light; "(ii) a vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit a stemlight and at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light; and "(iii) when vessels are towed alongside on both sides of the towing vessels a stem light shall be exhibited on the stem of the outboard vessel on each side of the towing vessel, and a single set of sidelights as far forward and as far outboard as is practicable, and a single special flashing light."; (5) in Rule 26 (33 U.S.C. 2026)— (A) in each of subsections (b)(i) and (c)(i) by striking "a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;"; and (B) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows: "(d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these Rules apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing."; and (6) by amending Rule 34(h) (33 U.S.C. 2034) to read as follows: "(h) A vessel that reaches agreement with another vessel in a head-on, crossing, or overtaking situation, as for example, by using the radiotelephone as prescribed by the Vessel Bridge-to- Bridge Radiotelephone Act (85 Stat. 164; 33 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), is not obliged to sound the whistle signals prescribed by this rule, but may do so. If agreement is not reached, then whistle signals shall be exchanged in a timely manner and shall prevail.". SEC. 702. MEASUREMENT OF VESSELS. Section 14104 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by redesignating the existing text after the section heading as subsection (a) and by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(b) If a statute allows for an alternate tonnage to be prescribed under this section, the Secretary may prescribe it by regulation. Any such regulation shall be considered to be an interpretive regulation for purposes of section 553 of title 5. Until an alternate tonnage is prescribed, the statutorily established tonnage shall apply to vessels measured under chapter 143 or chapter 145 of this title. "(c) The head of each Federal agency shall ensure that regulations issued by the agency that specify particular tonnages comply with the alternate tonnages implemented by the Secretary.". SEC. 703. LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS COMPENSATION. Section 3(d)(3)(B) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 903(d)(3)(B)) is amended by inserting after "1,600 tons gross" the following: "as measured under section 14502 of title 46, United States Code, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of that title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of that title". SEC. 704. RADIOTELEPHONE REQUmEMENTS. Section 4(a)(2) of the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act (33 U.S.C. 1203(a)(2)) is amended by inserting after "one hun-
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