46 CFR 15.1040: Massachusetts waters for pilotage in transit

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lists U.S. navigable waters in Massachusetts: part of Cape Cod Bay, the Cape Cod Canal, and part of Buzzards Bay. They are covered when a vessel is in transit and not bound to or departing from a port within these areas.

Applies toVessels in transit on the listed Massachusetts waters that are not bound to or departing from a port within the listed operating areas.

What it says

  1. The section covers the listed U.S. navigable waters within the State of Massachusetts when the vessel is in transit, but not bound to or departing from a port within the listed operating areas.

    “when the vessel is in transit, but not bound to or departing from a port within the following listed operating areas”

  2. Cape Cod Bay south of latitude 41°48′54″ N is a listed area.

    46 CFR 15.1040(a)“Cape Cod Bay south of latitude 41°48′54″ N;”

  3. The Cape Cod Canal is a listed area.

    46 CFR 15.1040(b)“The Cape Cod Canal; and”

  4. Buzzards Bay east of a line from the southernmost point of Wilbur Point to the easternmost point of Pasque Island is a listed area.

    46 CFR 15.1040(c)“Buzzards Bay east of a line extending from the southernmost point of Wilbur Point”

Common questions

Which Massachusetts waters does 46 CFR 15.1040 list?

It lists Cape Cod Bay south of latitude 41°48′54″ N, the Cape Cod Canal, and part of Buzzards Bay east of a defined line.

“Cape Cod Bay south of latitude 41°48′54″ N;”

When do the listed Massachusetts waters apply to a vessel?

They apply when the vessel is in transit, but not bound to or departing from a port within the listed operating areas.

“when the vessel is in transit, but not bound to or departing from a port within the following listed operating areas”

How is the Buzzards Bay area defined?

It is Buzzards Bay east of a line from the southernmost point of Wilbur Point to the easternmost point of Pasque Island.

“Buzzards Bay east of a line extending from the southernmost point of Wilbur Point”

The text of 46 CFR 15.1040

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Massachusetts

The following U.S. navigable waters located within the State of Massachusetts when the vessel is in transit, but not bound to or departing from a port within the following listed operating areas:

(a) Cape Cod Bay south of latitude 41°48′54″ N;

(b) The Cape Cod Canal; and

(c) Buzzards Bay east of a line extending from the southernmost point of Wilbur Point (latitude 41°34′55″ N longitude 70°51′15″ W) to the easternmost point of Pasque Island (latitude 41°26′55″ N longitude 70°50′30″ W).

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.