Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d) , when an automatic pilot is used in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations, the master must ensure that:
(a) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;(b) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and(c) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch.