# 33 CFR § 2.5: Specific definitions control

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.5

## Section

- **Citation:** 33 CFR § 2.5
- **Heading:** Specific definitions control
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 33—Navigation and Navigable Waters > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER A—GENERAL > PART 2—JURISDICTION > Subpart A—General

## Text

In cases where a particular statute, regulation, policy or procedure provides a specific jurisdictional definition that differs from the definitions contained in this part, the former definition controls.
Note to § 2.5:
For example, the definition of “inland waters” in the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2003(o)) would control the interpretation of inland navigation rules created under that Act and the “inland waters” definition in 46 CFR 10.107 would control regulations in 46 CFR part 10. Also, in various laws administered and enforced by the Coast Guard, the terms “State” and “United States” are defined to include some or all of the territories and possessions of the United States. The definitions in §§ 2.36 and 2.38 should be considered as supplementary to these statutory definitions and not as interpretive of them.
[USCG-2001-9044, 68 FR 42598, July 18, 2003, as amended by USCG-2020-0304, 85 FR 58275, Sept. 18, 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [33 CFR § 2.1 § 2.1 Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.1.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.5 § 2.5 Specific definitions control.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.5.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.20 § 2.20 Territorial sea baseline.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.20.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.22 § 2.22 Territorial sea.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.22.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.24 § 2.24 Internal waters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.24.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.26 § 2.26 Inland waters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.26.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.28 § 2.28 Contiguous zone.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.28.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.30 § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.30.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.32 § 2.32 High seas.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.32.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.34 § 2.34 Waters subject to tidal influence; waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; mean high water.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.34.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.36 § 2.36 Navigable waters of the United States, navigable waters, and territorial waters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.36.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.38 § 2.38 Waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; waters over which the United States has jurisdiction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.38.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.40 § 2.40 Maintenance of decisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.40.md)
- [33 CFR § 2.45 § 2.45 Decisions subject to change or modification and availability of lists and charts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.45.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-33-2.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.