Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Nov 04, 2024
§ 178.450 - Calculation of drainage area for cockpit and well deck vessels.

(a) The drainage area required on a vessel must be computed using the following formula:

For protected waters required drainage = .1 × Basic Drainage For partially protected waters required drainage = .5 × Basic Drainage For exposed waters required drainage = Basic Drainage where: Basic Drainage area in centimeters 2 = 4389.12 × [(Recess Volume × Recess Ratio) + (Weather Deck Volume × Weather Deck Ratio)]; or Basic Drainage area in inch 2 = (Recess Volume × Recess Ratio) + (Weather Deck Volume × Weather Deck Ratio) Recess Volume = (BR × DR) − VR BR = average height in centimeters (feet) of the bulwark above the well deck or cockpit deck; DR = total deck area of the cockpit or well deck in the after 2/3 of the vessel length (LOD) measured in centimeters 2 (feet 2). VR = volume of any weather tight structure below the bulwark of the well deck or cockpit deck. Recess Ratio = LR / LC LR = the length of the recess in the after 2/3 vessel length (LOD). LC= 2/3 vessel length (LOD). Weather Deck Volume = (BD × DD) − VS BD = average height in centimeters (feet) of the bulwark above the weather deck; DD = total deck area of the weather deck adjacent to bulwarks but not in way of the cockpit or well deck in the after 2/3 of the vessel length (LOD) measured in centimenters 2 (feet 2). VS = volume of any weather tight superstructure below the bulwark on the weather deck located within DD. Weather Deck Ratio = LD / LC LD = the length of the weather deck bulwark in the after 2/3 of the vessel length (LOD). LC= 2/3 vessel length (LOD).

(b) Vessels with bulwarks in the forward part of the vessel shall not form a well with the deckhouse which retains water.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 966, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996; USCG-2022-0323, 88 FR 10032, Feb. 16, 2023 ]
authority: 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2103,3306,3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3
source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 966, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 178.450