Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Nov 04, 2024
§ 180.200 - Survival craft—general.
(a) Each survival craft required on a vessel by this part must meet one of the following:
(1) For an inflatable liferaft—Approved under approval series 160.151 or other standard specified by the Commandant, with the applicable equipment pack, as determined by the cognizant OCMI. Each inflatable liferaft required on a vessel by this part must have a capacity of 6 persons or more. Inflatable liferafts may be substituted for inflatable buoyant apparatus or life floats required under this section;
(2) For a life float—Approved under approval series 160.027 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Buoyant apparatus may be used to meet requirements for life floats if the buoyant apparatus was installed on board the vessel on or before March 11, 1996, and if the buoyant apparatus remains in good and serviceable condition;
(3) For an inflatable buoyant apparatus—Approved under approval series 160.010 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Inflatable buoyant apparatus may be substituted for life floats required under this section.
(4) For a buoyant apparatus—Approved under approval series 160.010 or other standard specified by the Commandant. An existing buoyant apparatus may not be used to satisfy the requirements for life floats on existing vessels wishing to upgrade the total number of passengers carried on an oceans route.
(b) If the vessel carries a small boat or boats, the capacity of these boats may be counted toward life float capacity required by this part. Such boats must meet the requirements for safe loading and flotation in 33 CFR part 183, and must meet the stowage, launching, and equipment requirements in this part for the survival craft they replace.
(c) A summary of survival craft requirements is provided in Table 180.200(c).
| Route
| Survival craft requirements
|
|---|
| Oceans | (a) cold water
1—100% IBA—§ 180.202(a)(1).
|
| | (i) w/subdivision
2—100% LF—§ 180.202(a)(2).
|
| | (b) warm water
3—67% IBA
4—§ 180.202(b).
|
| Coastwise | (a) wood vsls in cold water.
|
| | (i) 67% IBA—§ 180.204(a)(1).
|
| | (ii) w/subdivision—100% LF—§ 180.204(a)(2).
|
| | (b) nonwood and vsls operating in warm water.
|
| | (i) 100% LF—§ 180.204 (b) and (c).
|
| | (c) within three miles of shore.
|
| | (i) w/o subdivision—100% LF—§ 180.204(d)(1).
|
| | (ii) w/subdivision—50% LF—§ 180.204(d)(2).
|
| | (iii) w/float free 406 MHz EPIRB—50% LF—§ 180.204(d)(3).
|
| Limited Coastwise (Not more than 20 miles from a harbor of safe refuge) | (a) wood vsls in cold water.
(i) 67% IBA—§ 180.205(a)(1).
(ii) w/subdivision—100% LF—§ 180.205(a)(2).
|
| | (b) nonwood vessels in cold water—100% LF—§ 180.205(b).
|
| | (c) within three miles of shore—§ 180.205(d).
|
| | (A) w/o subdivision—100% LF.
|
| | (B) w/subdivision—50% LF.
|
| | (C) w/float free 406 MHz EPIRB—50% LF.
|
| | (d) vessels operating in warm water.
|
| | (i) 50% LF—§ 180.205(c).
|
| | (ii) within three miles of shore.
|
| | (A) w/o subdivision—50% LF—§ 180.205(e)(1).
|
| | (B) w/subdivision—NONE—§ 180.205(e)(2).
|
| | (C) w/float free 406 MHz EPIRB—NONE— § 180.205(e)(3).
|
| Great Lakes | (a) same as Limited Coastwise (a) & (b)—§ 180.206(a).
|
| | (b) within one mile of shore—NONE
5—§ 180.206(b).
|
| Lakes, Bays, & Sounds
6 7 | (a) wood vsls in cold water.
|
| | (i) 100% LF—§ 180.207(a)(1).
|
| | (ii) w/subdivision—50% LF—§ 180.207(a)(2).
|
| | (b) nonwood—50% LF—§ 180.207(b).
|
| | (c) within 1 mile of shore—NONE—§ 180.207(e).
|
| | (d) warm water—NONE—§ 180.207(c).
|
| RIVERS
7 8 | (a) cold water.
|
| | (i) w/o subdivision—50% LF—§ 180.208(a)(1).
|
| | (ii) w/subdivision—NONE—§ 180.208(a)(2).
|
| | (iii) within one mile of shore—NONE—§ 180.208(d).
|
| | (b) warm water—NONE—§ 180.208(b)
|
§ 180.202 - Survival craft—vessels operating on oceans routes.
(a) Each vessel certificated to operate on an oceans route in cold water must either:
(1) Be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 in this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Each vessel certificated to operate on an oceans route in warm water must either:
(1) Be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
§ 180.204 - Survival craft—vessels operating on coastwise routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (c) of this section, each vessel constructed of wood certificated to operate on a coastwise route in cold water must either:
(1) Be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Each vessel constructed of a material other than wood certificated to operate on a coastwise route in cold water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a coastwise route in warm water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a coastwise route within three miles of land must either:
(1) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this subchapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(3) Have on board a FCC Type Accepted Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996]
§ 180.205 - Survival craft—vessels operating on limited coastwise routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, each vessel constructed of wood certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route in cold water must either:
(1) Be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, each vessel constructed of a material other than wood certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route in cold water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Except as allowed by paragraph (e) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route in warm water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route within three miles of land in cold water must be provided with the survival craft required by § 180.204(d).
(e) Each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route within three miles of land in warm water must either:
(1) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and not be required to carry survival craft; or
(3) Have on board a FCC Type Accepted Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate, and not be required to carry survival craft.
§ 180.206 - Survival craft—vessels operating on Great Lakes routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (b) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a Great Lakes route must be provided with the survival craft required by § 180.205 (a) through (e), as appropriate.
(b) Each vessel certificated to operate on a Great Lakes route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft if the OCMI determines that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51357, Sept. 30, 1997]
§ 180.207 - Survival craft—vessels operating on lakes, bays, and sounds routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of this section, each vessel constructed of wood certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route in cold water must either:
(1) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Except as allowed by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, each vessel constructed of a material other than wood certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route in cold water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) A vessel certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route in warm water is not required to carry survival craft.
(d) A vessel certificated to operate on lakes, bays, and sounds route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft.
(e) For a vessel certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route in shallow water where the vessel cannot sink deep enough to submerge the topmost passenger deck or where survivors can wade ashore, the cognizant OCMI may waive a requirement for life floats, if the OCMI determines that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
(f) Each vessel operating with a set schedule on a specific route that does not take it more than 20 nautical miles from a harbor of safe refuge, and that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operations base, or participates in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), may be granted a reduction in the survival craft requirements of this section if the cognizant OCMI is satisfied that a sufficient level of safety exists.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 24464, May 15, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51050, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58288, Sept. 29, 2014]
§ 180.208 - Survival craft—vessels operating on rivers routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in cold water must either:
(1) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter or § 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and the standards for subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in §§ 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter, as appropriate, and not be required to carry survival craft.
(b) A vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in warm water is not required to carry survival craft.
(c) A vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft.
(d) For a vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in shallow water where the vessel cannot sink deep enough to submerge the topmost passenger deck or where survivors can wade ashore, the cognizant OCMI may waive a requirement for life floats, if the OCMI determines that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
(e) Each vessel operating with a set schedule on a specific route that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operations base, or participates in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), may be granted a reduction in the survival craft requirement of this section if the cognizant OCMI is satisfied that a sufficient level of safety exists.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51050, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58288, Sept. 29, 2014]
§ 180.210 - Rescue boats.
(a) A vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length must carry at least one rescue boat unless the cognizant OCMI determines that:
(1) The vessel is sufficiently maneuverable, arranged, and equipped to allow the crew to recover a helpless person from the water;
(2) Recovery of a helpless person can be observed from the operating station; and
(3) The vessel does not regularly engage in operations that restrict its maneuverability.
(b) A vessel of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length is not required to carry a rescue boat unless:
(1) The vessel carries passengers on an open or partially enclosed deck; and
(2) The cognizant OCMI determines that the vessel is designed, arranged, or involved in operations so that the vessel itself cannot serve as an adequate rescue craft.
(c) In general, a rescue boat must be a small, lightweight boat with built-in buoyancy and capable of being readily launched and easily maneuvered. In addition, it must be of adequate proportion to permit taking an unconscious person on board without capsizing.
(d) On a vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length operating on protected waters, a rescue boat approved under approval series 160.056 is acceptable in meeting the intent of this section. On a vessel of more than 19.8 meters operating on exposed or partially protected waters, a rescue boat approved under approval series 160.156 is acceptable in meeting the intent of this section. On a vessel of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length, a required rescue boat must be acceptable to the cognizant OCMI.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51357, Sept. 30, 1997; 62 FR 64306, Dec. 5, 1997]
authority: 46 U.S.C. 2104,
3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1
source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 180.204