Except as provided in 33 CFR 164.15, when the automatic pilot is used in -
(a) Areas of high traffic density;
(b) Conditions of restricted visibility; and
(c) All other hazardous navigational situations, the master shall ensure that -
(1) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;
(2) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control;
(3) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer of the watch.
[CGD 75-074, 42 FR 5964, Jan. 31, 1977]