Scary:
Right you are, except....
Here is the Canadian rule. I am sure the US rule is similar.
fron the "Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations" to the Canada Shipping Act
- 4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the master and owner of every ship shall have on board, in respect of each area in which the ship is to be navigated, the most recent editions of the charts, documents and publications that are required to be used under sections 5 and 6.
- (2) The master and owner of a ship of less than 100 tons are not required to have on board the charts, documents and publications referred to in subsection (1) if the person in charge of navigation has sufficient knowledge of the following information, such that safe and efficient navigation in the area where the ship is to be navigated is not compromised:
- (a) the location and character of charted
- (i) shipping routes,
- (ii) lights, buoys and marks, and
- (iii) navigational hazards; and
- (b) the prevailing navigational conditions, taking into account such factors as tides, currents, ice and weather patterns.
- (3) If a ship, other than a pleasure craft of less than 150 tons, is making a foreign voyage, a home-trade voyage, Class I, II or III, or an inland voyage, Class I, the master and the owner of the ship shall have on board and make readily available to the person in charge of the navigation of the ship an illustrated table of life-saving signals for use by ships and persons in distress when communicating with life-saving stations, maritime rescue units or aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations.
- etc.....