StatA

Pt. 131

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

(1) Be in a sequential-checkoff format;
(2) Include the required alarms, controls, and communications; and
(3) Set forth details of the tests.
(c) Details of the tests must specify
status of equipment, functions necessary to complete the tests, and expected results.
(d) No tests may simulate conditions
by misadjustments, artificial signals,
or improper wiring.
(e) A detailed operations manual that
describes the operation and indicates
the location of each system installed to
comply with this part must be submitted to comply with § 127.110 of this
subchapter.

PART 131—OPERATIONS

Approved work vests.
Use.
Shipboard stowage.
Shipboard inspections.

Subpart H—Markings for Fire Equipment
and Emergency Equipment

Hulls.
Drafts.
Loadlines and decklines.

Subpart C—Preparations for Emergencies
131.310 List of crew members and offshore
workers.
131.320 Safety orientation for offshore workers.
131.330 Emergency instructions.
131.340 Recommended placard for emergency instructions.
131.350 Station bill.
131.360 Responsibilities of licensed or certificated individuals.

Subpart D—Sufficiency and Supervision of
Crew of Survival Craft
131.410
131.420

Logbooks and records.
Matters that must be logged.
Entries in official logbooks.

Subpart G—Work Vests

Notice and records.

Subpart B—Markings on Vessels
131.210
131.220
131.230

Subpart F—Logs
131.610
131.620
131.630

131.710
131.720
131.730
131.740

Subpart A—Notice of Casualty and
Records of Voyage
Sec.
131.110

131.545 Maintenance in general.
131.550 Maintenance of falls.
131.555 Spare parts and repair equipment.
131.560 Weekly tests and inspections.
131.565 Monthly tests and inspections.
131.570 Quarterly inspections.
131.575 Yearly inspections and repair.
131.580 Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, inflatable buoyant
apparatus, and inflatable rescue boats.
131.585 Periodic servicing of hydrostatic-release units.
131.590 Firefighting equipment.

Certificate of proficiency.
Manning and supervision.

Subpart E—Tests, Drills, and Inspections
131.505 Steering gear, whistle, and means of
communication.
131.510 Draft and loadline markings.
131.513 Verification of compliance with applicable stability requirements.
131.515 Periodic sanitary inspections.
131.520 Hatches and other openings.
131.525 Emergency lighting and power.
131.530 Abandon-ship training and drills.
131.535 Firefighting training and drills.
131.540 Operational readiness.

131.800 General.
131.805 General alarm bell, switch.
131.810 General alarm bell.
131.815 Alarm for fixed gaseous fire-extinguishing systems.
131.820 Branch lines of fire-extinguishing
system.
131.825 Controls of fire-extinguishing system.
131.830 Fire-hose stations.
131.835 Portable fire extinguishers.
131.840 Emergency lighting.
131.845 Instructions for shift of steering
gear.
131.850 Rudder orders.
131.855 Lifeboats and rescue boats.
131.860 Rigid liferafts.
131.865 Inflatable liferafts and inflatable
buoyant apparatus.
131.870 Life floats and buoyant apparatus.
131.875 Lifejackets, immersion suits, and
ring buoys.
131.880 Fire hoses and axes.
131.890 EPIRBs and SARTs.
131.893 Watertight doors and watertight
hatches.
131.896 Remote stopping-systems.
131.899 Fire dampers.

Subpart I—Miscellaneous
131.905 Statutory penalties.
131.910 Notices to mariners and aids to navigation.
131.915 Persons allowed in pilothouse and on
navigational bridge.
131.920 Level of manning.

450

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00460

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.320

131.925 Compliance with provisions of Certificate of Inspection.
131.930 Display of stability letter.
131.935 Prevention of oil pollution.
131.940 Marine sanitation device.
131.945 Display of plans.
131.950 Placard on lifesaving signals and
helicopter recovery.
131.955 Display of license.
131.960 Use of auto-pilot.
131.965 Sounding of whistle.
131.970 Unauthorized lighting.
131.975 Searchlights.
131.980 Lookouts and watches.
AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306,
6101, 10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p.
277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homeland Security Delegation
No. 0170.1.
SOURCE: CGD 82–004 and CGD 86–074, 62 FR
49340, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—Notice of Casualty
and Records of Voyage
§ 131.110

Notice and records.

Each vessel must meet the requirements of part 4 of this chapter for reporting marine casualties and retaining voyage records.

Subpart B—Markings on Vessels
§ 131.210

Hulls.

The hull of each vessel must be
marked as required by parts 67 and 69
of this chapter.
§ 131.220

Drafts.

(a) Each vessel must have the drafts
of the vessel plainly and legibly
marked upon the stem and upon the
sternpost or rudderpost, or at any
place at the stern of the vessel that
may be necessary for easy observance.
The bottom of each mark must indicate the draft.
(b) Each draft must be taken from
the bottom of the keel to the surface of
the water at the location of the marks.
(c) When, because of raked stem or
cutaway skeg, the keel does not extend
forward or aft to the draft markings,
the datum line from which the draft is
taken must be the line of the bottom of
the keel projected forward or aft, as
the case may be, to where the line
meets that of the draft markings projected downward.

(d) When a skeg or other appendage
extends below the line of the keel, the
draft at the end of the vessel adjacent
to that appendage must be measured to
a line tangent to the lowest part of the
appendage and parallel to the line of
the bottom of the keel.
(e) Drafts must be separated so that
the projections of the marks onto a
vertical plane are of uniform height,
equal to the vertical spacing between
consecutive marks.
(f) Marks must be painted in a color
contrasting with that of the hull.
(g) Where marks are obscured because of operational constraints or by
protrusions, the vessel must be fitted
with a reliable draft-indicating system
from which the drafts at bow and stern
can be determined.
§ 131.230 Loadlines and decklines.
Each vessel assigned a loadline must
have loadline markings and deck-line
markings permanently scribed or embossed as required by subchapter E of
this chapter.

Subpart C—Preparations for
Emergencies
§ 131.310 List of crew members and
offshore workers.
(a) The master of each vessel shall
keep a correct list containing the name
of each person that embarks upon and
disembarks from the vessel.
(b) The list required by paragraph (a)
of this section must be prepared before
the vessel’s departure on a voyage, and
deposited ashore—
(1) At the facility from which the
crew members and offshore workers
embarked;
(2) In a well-marked place at the vessel’s normal berth; or
(3) With a representative of the
owner or managing operator of the vessel.
§ 131.320 Safety orientation for offshore workers.
(a) Before a vessel gets under way on
a voyage, the master shall ensure that
suitable public announcements are
made informing each offshore worker
of—
(1) In general terms, emergency and
evacuation procedures;

451

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00461

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.330

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

(2) Locations of emergency exits and
of embarkation areas for survival craft;
(3) Locations of stowage of lifejackets and immersion suits;
(4) With demonstration, proper method or methods of donning and adjusting
lifejackets and immersion suits of the
type or types carried on the vessel;
(5) Locations of the instruction placards for lifejackets and other lifesaving
devices;
(6) Explanation that each offshore
worker shall don an immersion suit
and a lifejacket when the master determines that hazardous conditions do or
might exist but that offshore workers
may don lifejackets whenever they feel
it necessary;
(7) Which hazardous conditions might
require the donning of lifejackets and
immersion suits;
(8) Types and locations of any other
lifesaving device carried on the vessel;
(9) Locations and contents of the
‘‘Emergency Instructions’’ required by
§ 131.330;
(10) Survival craft to which assigned;
(11) Any hazardous materials on the
vessel; and
(12) Any conditions or circumstances
that constitute a risk to safety.
(b) The master of each vessel shall
ensure that each offshore worker
boarding the vessel on a voyage after
the initial public announcement has
been made, as required by paragraph
(a) of this section, also hears the information in paragraph (a) of this section.
§ 131.330

Emergency instructions.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by
this section, the master of each vessel
shall prepare and post durable emergency-instruction placards in conspicuous locations accessible to the
crew members and offshore workers.
(b) The instruction placards must
contain the recommended ‘‘Emergency
Instructions’’ listed in § 131.340 that, in
the judgment of the cognizant OCMI,
apply. The placards must be further designed to address the equipment, arrangement, and operation peculiar to
each vessel.

§ 131.340 Recommended placard for
emergency instructions.
The following are the recommended
format and content of the placard for
emergency instructions:
EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS
(a) Rough weather at sea, crossing of
hazardous bars, or flooding.
(1) Close each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to prevent taking water aboard or further
flooding in the vessel.
(2) Keep bilges dry to prevent loss of
stability from water in bilges. Use
power-driven bilge pump, hand pump,
and buckets to dewater.
(3) Align fire pumps to serve as bilge
pumps if possible.
(4) Check, for leakage, each intake
and discharge line that penetrates the
hull.
(5) Offshore workers remain seated
and evenly distributed.
(6) Offshore workers don immersion
suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets
if the going becomes very rough, if the
vessel is about to cross a hazardous
bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered
to by the master.
(7) Never abandon the vessel unless
actually forced to, or ordered to by the
master.
(8) Prepare survival craft—life floats,
(inflatable) rafts, (inflatable) buoyant
apparatus, and boats—for launching.
(b) ‘‘Man overboard’’.
(1) Throw a ring buoy into the water
as close to the person overboard as possible.
(2) Post a lookout to keep the person
overboard in sight.
(3) Launch the rescue boat and maneuver it to pick up the person overboard, or maneuver the vessel to pick
up the person.
(4) Have a crew member put on an
immersion suit or lifejacket, have a
safety line made fast to the crew member, and have the crew member stand
by to jump into the water to assist the
person overboard if necessary.
(5) If the person overboard is not immediately located—
(i) Notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard; and
(ii) Continue searching until released
by the Coast Guard.
(c) Fire.

452

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00462

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.420

(1) Cut off air to the fire: close hatches, ports, doors, manual ventilators,
and the like and shut off the ventilation system.
(2) De-energize electrical systems
supplying the affected compartment.
(3) Immediately use a portable fire
extinguisher aimed at the base of the
flames. Never use water on electrical
fires.
(4) If the fire is in machinery spaces,
shut off the fuel supply and ventilation
system and activate any fixed extinguishing-system.
(5) Maneuver the vessel to minimize
the effect of wind on the fire.
(6) If unable to control the fire, notify other vessels in the vicinity, and
the Coast Guard.
(7) Move offshore workers away from
fire; have them don lifejackets and, if
necessary, prepare to abandon the vessel.
§ 131.350 Station bill.
(a) The master of each vessel shall
post a station bill if the vessel’s Certificate of Inspection requires more
than four crew members, including the
master.
(b) The station bill must be posted in
the pilothouse and in conspicuous
places in crew members’ and offshore
workers’ accommodations.
(c) The station bill must set forth the
special duties and duty stations of each
crew member for various emergencies.
The duties must, as far as possible, be
comparable to and compatible with the
regular work of the member. The duties must include at least the following
and should comprise any other duties
necessary for the proper handling of a
particular emergency:
(1) The closing of hatches, air-ports,
watertight doors, vents, and scuppers,
and of intake valves and discharge
lines that penetrate the hull; the stopping of fans and ventilating systems;
and the operating of safety equipment.
(2) The preparing and launching of
survival craft and rescue boats.
(3) The extinguishing of fire.
(4) The mustering of offshore workers, which includes—
(i) Assembling them and seeing that
they are properly dressed and have
donned their immersion suits and lifejackets; and

(ii) Directing them to their appointed
stations.
§ 131.360 Responsibilities of licensed
or certificated individuals.
Nothing in the emergency instructions or in any station bill required by
this subpart exempts any licensed or
certificated individual from the exercise of good judgment in an emergency.

Subpart D—Sufficiency and Supervision of Crew of Survival
Craft
§ 131.410

Certificate of proficiency.

A merchant mariner’s document with
an endorsement of lifeboatman or another inclusive rating under part 12 of
this title is evidence of training in survival craft and serves as a certificate of
proficiency. For this subpart, a ‘‘certificated’’ person is a person holding a
merchant mariner’s document with
such an endorsement.
§ 131.420

Manning and supervision.

(a) There must be enough trained
persons aboard each survival craft to
muster and assist untrained persons.
(b) Except as permitted by paragraph
(c)(2) of this section, there must be
enough deck officers, able seamen, or
other certificated persons aboard each
survival craft to manage the launching
and handling of the survival craft.
(c) One person must be placed in
charge of each survival craft to be
used.
(1) Except as permitted by paragraph
(c)(2) of this section, the person in command must be a deck officer, able seaman, or other certificated person.
(2) Considering the nature of the voyage, the number of persons permitted
aboard, and the characteristics of the
vessel, including gross tonnage, the
cognizant OCMI may permit persons
practiced in the handling of liferafts to
be placed in charge of liferafts instead
of persons required under paragraph
(c)(1) of this section.
(3) A deck officer, able seaman, or
other certificated person shall serve as
second-in-command for each lifeboat
either—
(i) Carried on a vessel in ocean service; or

453

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00463

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.505

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

(ii) Permitted to carry more than 40
persons.
(d) The person in charge and the second-in-command of each survival craft
shall have a list of crew members and
offshore workers assigned to the craft
and shall see that the crew members
are acquainted with their duties.
(e) Each motorized survival craft
must have assigned a person capable of
operating the engine and carrying out
minor adjustments.
(f) The master shall ensure that the
persons required under paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this section are equitably
distributed among the vessel’s survival
crafts.

Subpart E—Tests, Drills, and
Inspections
§ 131.505 Steering gear, whistle, and
means of communication.
(a) On each vessel expected to be
away from shore for more than 48
hours, the master shall examine and
test the steering gear, the whistle, and
the means of communication between
the pilothouse and the engine room 12
or fewer hours before departure. On
every other vessel, the master shall do
the same at least once a week.
(b) The date of each test and examination and the condition of the equipment must be noted in the vessel’s logbook.
§ 131.510

Draft and loadline markings.

(a) The master of each vessel on an
ocean or coastwise voyage shall enter
in the vessel’s logbook the drafts of the
vessel, forward and aft, when leaving
port.
(b) The master of each vessel subject
to the requirements of subchapter E of
this chapter shall, upon departure from
port on an ocean or coastwise voyage,
enter in the vessel’s logbook a statement of the position of the loadline
markings, port and starboard, relative
to the surface of the water in which the
vessel is then floating.
(c) If the master, when recording
drafts, compensates for the density of
the water in which the vessel is floating, he or she shall note this density in
the vessel’s logbook.

§ 131.513 Verification of compliance
with applicable stability requirements.
(a) After loading but before departure, and at other times necessary to
assure the safety of the vessel, the
master shall verify that the vessel
complies with requirements in its
trim-and-stability book, stability letter, Certificate of Inspection, and
Loadline Certificate, whichever apply,
and then enter a statement of the
verification in the log book. The vessel
may not leave port until it is in compliance with these requirements.
(b) When determining compliance
with applicable stability requirements,
the master shall ascertain the vessel’s
draft, trim, and stability as necessary;
and any stability calculations made in
support of the determination must remain aboard the vessel for the duration
of the voyage.
§ 131.515 Periodic
sanitary
inspections.
(a) The master shall make periodic
inspections of the quarters, toilet and
washing spaces, serving pantries, galleys, and the like, to ensure that those
spaces are maintained in a sanitary
condition.
(b) The master shall enter in the vessel’s logbook the results of these inspections.
§ 131.520 Hatches and other openings.
Before any vessel leaves protected
waters, the master shall ensure that
the vessel’s exposed cargo hatches and
other openings in the hull are closed;
made properly watertight by the use of
tarpaulins, gaskets, or similar devices;
and properly secured for sea.
§ 131.525 Emergency
lighting
and
power.
(a) The master of each vessel shall
ensure that the emergency lighting and
power systems are tested at least once
each week that the vessel is operated,
to verify that they work.
(b) The master shall ensure that
emergency generators driven by internal-combustion engines run under load
for at least 2 hours at least once each
month that the vessel is operated.
(c) The master shall ensure that storage batteries driving fitted systems for

454

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00464

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.530

emergency lighting and power are tested at least once each 6 months that the
vessel is operated, to demonstrate the
ability of the batteries to supply the
emergency loads for the period specified by Table 112.05–5(a) of this chapter
for cargo vessels.
(d) The date of each test and the condition and performance of the apparatus must be noted in the vessel’s logbook.
§ 131.530 Abandon-ship
drills.

training

and

(a) Material for abandon-ship training must be aboard each vessel. The
material must consist of a manual of
one or more volumes, or audiovisual
training aids, or both.
(1) The material must contain instructions and information about the
lifesaving appliances aboard the vessel
and about the best methods of survival.
Any manual must be written in easily
understood terms, illustrated wherever
possible.
(2) If a manual is used, there must be
a copy in each messroom and recreation room for crew members or in
each stateroom for them. If audiovisual
aids are used, they must be incorporated in the training sessions aboard
under paragraph (d) of this section.
(3) The material must explain the—
(i) Method of donning immersion
suits and lifejackets carried aboard;
(ii) Mustering at assigned stations;
(iii) Proper boarding, launching, and
clearing of survival craft and rescue
boats;
(iv) Method of launching survival
craft by people within them;
(v) Method of releasing survival craft
from launching-appliances;
(vi) Use of devices for protecting survival craft in launching-areas, where
appropriate;
(vii) Illumination of launching-areas;
(viii) Use of each item of survival
equipment;
(ix) Instructions for emergency repair of lifesaving appliances;
(x) Use of radio lifesaving-appliances,
with illustrations;
(xi) Use of sea anchors;
(xii) Use of engine and accessories,
where appropriate;

(xiii) Recovery of survival craft and
rescue boats, including stowage and securing;
(xiv) Hazards of exposure and need
for warm clothing;
(xv) Best use of survival craft for survival; and
(xvi) Methods of retrieving personnel,
including use of helicopter-mounted
rescue gear (slings, baskets, stretchers)
and vessel’s line-throwing apparatus.
(b) An abandon-ship drill must be
held on each vessel in alternate weeks.
If none can be held during the appointed week, because of bad weather
or other unavoidable constraint, one
must be held at the first opportunity
afterward. If the crew changes more
than once in any 2 weeks, one must be
held as soon after the arrival of each
crew as practicable.
(1) Any crew member excused from
an abandon-ship drill must participate
in the next one, so that each member
participates in at least one each
month. Unless more than 25 percent of
the members have participated in one
on that particular vessel in the previous month, one must be held before
the vessel leaves port if reasonable and
practicable; but, unless the Commandant (G-MOC) accepts alternative
arrangements as at least equivalent,
one must be held not later than 24
hours after the vessel leaves port in
any event.
(2)(i) On a voyage likely to take more
than 24 hours to complete, a muster of
offshore workers must be held on departure. The master shall ensure that
each worker is assigned to a survival
craft and is directed to its location.
Each person in charge of such a craft
shall maintain a list of workers assigned to the craft.
(ii) On a voyage likely to take 24
hours or less to complete, the master
shall call the attention of each offshore
worker to the emergency instructions
required by § 131.330.
(3) Each abandon-ship drill must include—
(i) Summoning of crew members and
offshore workers to survival craft with
the general alarm;
(ii) Simulation of an abandon-ship
emergency that varies from drill to
drill;

455

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00465

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.530

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

(iii) Reporting of crew members and
offshore workers to survival craft, and
preparing for, and demonstrating the
duties assigned under the procedure described in the station bill for, the particular abandon-ship emergency being
simulated;
(iv) Checking to see that crew members and offshore workers are suitably
dressed;
(v) Checking to see that immersion
suits and lifejackets are correctly
donned;
(vi) Lowering of at least one lifeboat
(far enough that the davit head has
completed its travel and the fall wire
of the lifeboat has begun to pay out)
or, if no lifeboats are required, lowering of one rescue boat, after any necessary preparation for launching;
(vii) Starting and operating of the
engine of the lifeboat or rescue boat;
and
(viii) Operation of davits used for
launching liferafts.
(4) As far as practicable, at successive drills different lifeboats must be
lowered to meet the requirements of
paragraph (b)(3)(vi) of this section.
(5) As far as practicable, each abandon-ship drill must be conducted as if
there were an actual emergency.
(6) Each lifeboat must be launched
with its assigned crew aboard during
an abandon-ship drill, and be maneuvered in the water, at least once each 3
months that the vessel is operated.
(7) Each rescue boat must be
launched with its assigned crew aboard
and be maneuvered in the water—
(i) Once each month that the vessel is
operated, if reasonable and practicable;
but,
(ii) In any event, at least once each 3
months that the vessel is operated.
(8) If drills for launching lifeboats
and rescue boats are carried out with
the vessel making headway, the drills
must, because of the danger involved,
be practiced only in waters where the
drills are safe, under the supervision of
an officer experienced in such drills.
(9) At least one abandon-ship drill
each 3 months must be held at night,
unless the master determines it unsafe.
(10) Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment must be tested at each abandon-ship drill.

(c) The master of each vessel carrying immersion suits shall ensure
that—
(1) Each crew member either—
(i) Wears an immersion suit in at
least one abandon-ship drill a month
unless it is impracticable because of
warm weather; or
(ii) Participates in at least one immersion-suit drill a month that includes donning an immersion suit and
being instructed in its use;
(2) In each abandon-ship drill, each
offshore worker aboard is instructed in
the use of immersion suits; and
(3) Each offshore worker is told at
the beginning of the voyage where immersion suits are stowed aboard and is
encouraged to read the instructions for
donning and using the suits.
(d) Each crew member aboard the
vessel must be given training in the
use of lifesaving appliances and in the
duties assigned by the station bill.
(1) Except as provided by paragraph
(d)(2) of this section, training aboard in
the use of the vessel’s lifesaving appliances, including equipment on survival
craft, must be given to each crew member as soon as possible but not later
than 2 weeks after the member joins
the vessel.
(2) If a crew member is on a regularly
scheduled rotating assignment to a
vessel, training aboard in the use of the
vessel’s lifesaving appliances, including
equipment on survival craft, must be
given to the member not later than 2
weeks after the member first joins the
vessel.
(3) Each crew member must be instructed in the use of the vessel’s lifesaving equipment and appliances and
in survival at sea during alternate
weeks, normally in the weeks when
abandon-ship drills are not held. If individual instructional sessions cover
different parts of the vessel’s lifesaving
system, they must cover each part of
the vessel’s lifesaving equipment and
appliances each 2 months. Each member must be instructed in at least—
(i) Operation and use of the vessel’s
inflatable liferafts;
(ii) Problems of hypothermia, first
aid for hypothermia, and other appropriate procedures; and

456

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00466

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.540

(iii) Special procedures necessary for
use of the vessel’s lifesaving equipment
and appliances in heavy weather.
(4) Training in the use of davitlaunched inflatable liferafts must take
place at intervals of not more than 4
months on each vessel with such liferafts. Whenever practicable this must
include the inflation and lowering of a
liferaft. If this liferaft is a special one
intended for training only, and is not
part of the vessel’s lifesaving system,
it must be conspicuously so marked.
(e) Dates when musters are held, details of abandon-ship drills, drills on
other lifesaving equipment and appliances, and training aboard must be entered in the vessel’s official logbook.
Each logbook entry must include the
following, as applicable:
(1) Time and date.
(2) Length of drill or training session.
(3) Identification of survival craft
used in drills.
(4) Subject of training session.
(5) Statement on the condition of the
equipment used.
(6) Unless a full muster, drill, or
training session is held at the appointed time, the circumstances and
the extent of the muster, drill, or
training session held.
§ 131.535 Firefighting
training
and
drills.
(a) A fire drill must be held on each
vessel, normally on alternate weeks. It
must not be held as part of the abandon-ship drill, nor immediately before
or after the abandon-ship drill. If none
can be held on schedule, because of bad
weather or other unavoidable constraint, one must be held at the next
opportunity.
(b) Any crew member excused from a
fire drill must participate in the next
one, so that each member participates
in at least one each month. Unless
more than 25 percent of the members
have participated in one on that particular vessel in the previous month,
one must be held before the vessel
leaves port if reasonable and practicable; but, unless the Commandant
(G-MOC) accepts alternative arrangements as at least equivalent, one must
be held not later than 24 hours after
the vessel leaves port in any event.
(c) Each fire drill must include—

(1) Summoning of crew members and
offshore workers to their stations with
the general alarm;
(2) Simulation of a fire emergency
that varies from drill to drill;
(3) Reporting of crew members and
offshore workers to stations, and preparing for, and demonstrating of the
duties assigned under the procedure described in the station bill for, the particular fire emergency being simulated;
(4) Starting of fire pumps and use of
a sufficient number of outlets to determine that the system is working properly;
(5) Bringing out each breathing apparatus and other item of rescue and
safety equipment from the emergencyequipment lockers, and demonstrating
of the use of each item by the person or
persons that will make use of it;
(6) Operation of each watertight door;
(7) Operation of each self-closing fire
door;
(8) Closing of each fire door and each
door within the fire boundary; and
(9) Closing of each ventilation closure of each space protected by a fixed
fire-extinguishing system.
(d) Each fire drill must, as far as
practicable, be conducted as if there
were an actual emergency.
(e) The dates when fire drills are
held, and details of training in fire
fighting and of fire drills, must be entered in the vessel’s official logbook.
Each logbook entry must include the
following, as applicable:
(1) Time and date.
(2) Length of drill or training session.
(3) Number and lengths of hose used.
(4) Subject of training session.
(5) Statement on the condition of the
equipment used.
(6) Unless a full drill or training session is held at the appointed time, the
circumstances and the extent of the
drill or training session held.
§ 131.540 Operational readiness.
(a) Except as provided by § 131.545(e)
of this subpart, ach lifesaving appliance and each item of equipment for a
lifeboat, liferaft, survival craft, rescue
boat, life float, or buoyant apparatus
must be in good working order and
ready for immediate use before the vessel leaves port and at any time when
the vessel is away from port.

457

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00467

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.545

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

(b) Each deck where a lifeboat, liferaft, survival craft, rescue boat, life
float, or buoyant apparatus is stowed,
launched, or boarded must be kept
clear of obstructions that would interfere with the breaking out, launching,
or boarding of the lifesaving appliance.
§ 131.545 Maintenance in general.
(a) For each lifesaving appliance, the
manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance of the appliances aboard must
be aboard and must include the following:
(1) Checklists for use in the inspections required by § 131.565(a) of this subpart.
(2) Instructions for maintenance and
repair.
(3) A schedule of periodic maintenance.
(4) A diagram of lubrication points
with the recommended lubricants.
(5) A list of replaceable parts.
(6) A list of sources of spare parts.
(7) A log for records of inspections,
maintenance, and repair.
(b) The master shall ensure that
maintenance is carried out to comply
with the instructions required by paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) For lifesaving appliances constructed on or before July 1, 1986, paragraph (a) of this section need be complied with only to the extent that appliances’ manufacturers’ instructions
are available.
(d) The cognizant OCMI may accept,
instead of the instructions required by
paragraph (a) of this section, a program for planned shipboard maintenance that includes the items listed in
that paragraph.
(e) If lifeboats and rigid liferafts are
maintained and repaired on the vessel
while the vessel is under way, there
must be enough lifeboats and liferafts
available for use on the vessel to accommodate each person aboard the
vessel.
(f) Except in an emergency, no extensive repairs or alterations may be made
to any lifesaving appliance without advance notice to the cognizant OCMI. As
far as possible, each repair or alteration must be made to comply with the
requirements for the appliance in subchapter Q of this chapter. This OCMI
may require each appliance that has

been extensively repaired or in any
way altered to undergo each pertinent
test in subchapter Q of this chapter.
(g) The master shall report each
emergency repair or alteration to a
lifesaving appliance, as soon as practicable, either to the OCMI in the next
port in the United States where the
vessel calls or, if the vessel does not
regularly call at ports in the United
States, to the OCMI responsible for the
next foreign port where the vessel
calls.
(h) No lifeboat or rigid liferaft may
be repaired or reconditioned for use on
a vessel other than the one it was
originally built for, unless specifically
permitted by the cognizant OCMI. The
lifeboat or rigid liferaft must be so repaired or reconditioned under the supervision of this OCMI, unless he or she
specifically allows otherwise.
§ 131.550 Maintenance of falls.
(a) Each fall used with a launching
appliance must be turned end for end
at intervals of not more than 30
months.
(b) Each fall used with a launching
appliance must be renewed either when
necessary because of deterioration or
after the passage of not more than 5
years, whichever occurs earlier.
(c) Each fall used with a launching
appliance must have a corrosion-resistant tag permanently marked with—
(1) The date the new fall was installed; and
(2) The last date, if any, the fall was
turned end for end.
§ 131.555 Spare parts and repair equipment.
Spare parts and repair equipment
must be provided for each lifesaving
appliance and component that either is
subject to excessive wear or consumption or needs to be replaced regularly.
These parts and equipment must be
kept aboard the OSV, except that, if
the vessel operates daily out of the
same shore base, they may be kept at
that base.
§ 131.560 Weekly tests and inspections.
The following tests and inspections
must be carried out weekly:
(a) Each lifesaving appliance and
launching appliance must be visually

458

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00468

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.580

inspected to ensure that it is ready for
use.
(b) Each engine of a lifeboat or a rescue boat must be run ahead and astern
for not less than 3 minutes, unless the
ambient temperature is below the
minimal temperature required for
starting the engine.
(c) The general alarm system must be
activated.
(d) Each battery for starting the engine of a lifeboat or a rescue boat, or
for energizing a searchlight, a fixed installation of a radio in a lifeboat, or a
portable radio, must be brought up to
full charge at least once a week if the
battery is—
(1) Of a type that requires recharging; and
(2) Not connected to a device that
keeps it continuously charged.
(e) The transmitter of each fixed installation of a radio in a lifeboat and
that of each portable radio must be
tried out at least once a week with a
dummy antenna load.
§ 131.565 Monthly
tions.

tests

and

inspec-

(a) Each lifesaving appliance, including lifeboat equipment, must be inspected monthly against the checklist
required by § 131.545(a)(1) of this subpart to ensure that it is aboard and in
good order. A report of the inspection,
including a statement on the condition
of the appliance, must be entered in
the vessel’s logbook.
(b) Each Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and each
Search
and
Rescue
Transponder
(SART), other than an EPIRB or SART
in an inflatable liferaft, must be tested
monthly. The EPIRB must be tested
using the integrated test circuit and
the output indicator (test button) to
determine that it works.
§ 131.570

Quarterly inspections.

(a) Each apparatus that controls a
lifeboat winch, including motor controllers, emergency switches, master
switches, and limit switches, must be
inspected once each 3 months.
(b) The inspection must involve the
removal of drain plugs and the opening
of drain valves to ensure that enclosures are free of water.

(c) The date of the inspection required by this section and the condition of the equipment must be entered
in the vessel’s logbook.
§ 131.575 Yearly inspections and repair.
(a) Each lifeboat, rescue boat, rigid
liferaft, buoyant apparatus, and life
float must be stripped, cleaned, and
thoroughly inspected and repaired as
needed at least once a year. This procedure includes emptying and cleaning
each fuel tank and refilling it with
fresh fuel.
(b) Each davit, winch, fall, and other
launching-appliance must be thoroughly inspected at least once a year,
and repaired as needed.
(c) Each item of survival equipment
with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection
and repair if this date has passed.
(d) Each battery used in an item of
survival equipment and clearly marked
with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection
and repair if this date has passed.
(e) Except a storage battery used in a
lifeboat or in a rescue boat, each battery used in an item of survival equipment and not clearly marked with an
expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair.
(f) Compliance with the requirements
of this section does not relieve the
master or person in charge of the duty
of compliance with requirements in
§ 131.540(a) of this subpart to keep the
equipment ready for immediate use
when the vessel is under way.
§ 131.580 Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, inflatable buoyant apparatus, and inflated rescue boats.
(a) An inflatable liferaft or inflatable
buoyant apparatus must be serviced at
a facility specifically approved by the
Commandant for the particular brand,
and in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part
160, subpart 160.151, of this chapter—
(1) No later than the month and year
on its servicing sticker affixed under 46
CFR 160.151–57(n), except that servicing
may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the vessel, provided

459

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00469

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.585

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

that the delay does not exceed 5
months; and
(2) Whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals
are broken.
(b) Each inflatable lifejacket and hybrid inflatable lifejacket or work vest
must be serviced:
(1) Within 12 months of its initial
packing; and
(2) Within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except that servicing
may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the OSV, provided
that the delay does not exceed 5
months.
(c) Each inflatable lifejacket must be
serviced in compliance with subpart
160.176 of this chapter.
(d) Each hybrid inflatable lifejacket
or work vest must be serviced in accordance with the manual provided
under § 160.077–29 of this chapter.
(e) Repair and maintenance of inflatable rescue boats must follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Each repair,
except an emergency repair made
aboard the vessel, must be made at a
servicing facility approved by the Commandant (G-MSE).
[CGD 82–004 and CGD 86–074, 62 FR 49340,
Sept. 19, 1997, as amended by USCG–2002–
11118, 67 FR 58541, Sept. 17, 2002]

§ 131.585 Periodic servicing of hydrostatic-release units.
(a) Except a disposable hydrostaticrelease unit with an expiration date,
each hydrostatic-release unit must be
serviced—
(1) Within 12 months of its manufacture and within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when a servicing due after 12 months is delayed
not more than 5 months until the next
scheduled inspection of the vessel; and
(2) In compliance with subpart 160.062
of this chapter.
(b) The springs of each spring-tensioned gripe used with a hydrostaticrelease unit must be renewed when the
unit is serviced and tested.
§ 131.590

Firefighting equipment.

(a) The master shall ensure that the
vessel’s required firefighting equipment is on board in the prescribed location and always ready for use, other

than when the equipment is being serviced.
(b) The master shall, at least once
each 12 months, nsure the performance
of the tests and inspections of each
portable
fire
extinguisher,
semiportable fire extinguisher, and
fixed fire-extinguishing system aboard
described by Table 132.350 of this subchapter.
(c) The master shall keep records of
these tests and inspections, showing
the dates of their performance, the
number or other identification of each
unit undergoing them, and the name of
the person or company conducting
them. The records must be made available to the marine inspector upon request and must be kept for the period
of validity of the vessel’s current Certificate of Inspection.
(d) The conducting of tests and inspections required by this section does
not relieve the master of his or her responsibility to maintain the prescribed
firefighting equipment in working
order for use at any time when the vessel is under way.

Subpart F—Logs
§ 131.610

Logbooks and records.

(a) Each OSV must by statute, or by
regulations in this subchapter, have
certain logbooks or records. The master shall make all entries required by
statute, or by regulations in this subchapter.
(b) 46 U.S.C. 11301 states that a vessel
of the United States, except one on a
voyage from a port in the United
States to a port in Canada, shall have
an official logbook if the vessel is—
(1) On a voyage from a port in the
United States to a foreign port; or
(2) Of at least 100 gross tons and on a
voyage between a port in the United
States on the Atlantic Ocean and one
on the Pacific Ocean.
(c) The Coast Guard gratuitously furnishes to masters of vessels of the
United States the official logbook as
Form CG–706B or CG–706C, depending
upon the number of persons employed
as crew. The first several pages of this
logbook list various acts of Congress
governing logbooks and the entries required in them.

460

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00470

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.800

(d) When a voyage is completed, or
after a specified time has elapsed, the
master shall file the official logbook
containing required entries with the
OCMI at or nearest the port where the
vessel may be.
(e) Unless an official logbook is required, the owner, operator, or master
shall supply an alternative log or
record for making entries required by
law, including regulations in this subchapter. This log or record need not be
filed with this OCMI, but must be kept
available for review by a marine inspector for a year after the date that
the latest entry concerns.
§ 131.620

Matters that must be logged.

The following matters must be entered in each vessel’s logbook:
(a) Safety Orientation for Offshore
Workers. As held. See § 131.320.
(b) Tests and inspection of Steering
Gear, Whistle, and Means of Communication.
Before
departure.
See
§ 131.505.
(c) Draft and Loadline Markings. Before leaving port. Ocean and coastwise
voyages only. See § 131.510.
(d) Verification of Compliance with
Applicable Stability Requirements. See
§ 131.513.
(e) Periodic Sanitary Inspections.
After periodic sanitary inspections
made by the master. See § 131.515.
(f) Hatches and Other Openings. Each
opening and closing, or departure from
port without closing (except by vessels
on protected waters). See § 131.520.
(g) Tests of Emergency Lighting and
Power. Weekly, monthly, and twiceyearly. See § 131.525.
(h)
Abandon-Ship
Training
and
Drills, and Firefighting Training and
Drills. As held. See §§ 131.530 and
131.535.
(i) Inspection of Lifeboat Winches.
Once each 3 months. See § 131.570.
§ 131.630

Entries in official logbooks.

On each vessel required to have an
Official Logbook, the items required by
46 U.S.C. 11301, as well as the items required by § 131.620, must be entered in
the logbook.

Subpart G—Work Vests
§ 131.710

Approved work vests.

Each buoyant work vest carried
aboard must be approved under subpart
160.053 of this chapter or, as a commercial hybrid personal flotation device,
under subpart 160.077 of this chapter.
§ 131.720

Use.

(a) An approved buoyant work vest is
an item of safety apparel and may be
carried aboard for wear by a crew member when working near or over the
water.
(b) The vest may not count towards
the vessel’s complement of lifejackets.
(c) The vest may not be worn instead
of a lifejacket during a drill.
§ 131.730

Shipboard stowage.

The master shall ensure that no work
vest is stowed where any lifejacket is
stowed.
§ 131.740

Shipboard inspections.

Each buoyant work vest must be subject to examination by a marine inspector, to determine its serviceability. If found serviceable, it may
continue in service; but no buoyant
work vest is stamped as inspected. If
not found serviceable, and if determined irreparable by the inspector, a
buoyant work vest must be destroyed
in the presence of the inspector.

Subpart H—Markings for Fire
Equipment and Emergency
Equipment
§ 131.800

General.

(a) This section prescribes markings
necessary for the guidance of persons
aboard in case of an emergency. The
markings may be modified or omitted
if they are unnecessary, because either
the vessel is small or particular circumstances warrant, and if the cognizant OCMI approves.
(b) Each stateroom notice, directional sign, and the like must be printed in English and in other languages
appropriate to the service of the vessel.
(c) Where this subpart specifies red
letters, letters of a contrasting color
on a red background are acceptable.

461

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00471

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.805
§ 131.805

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)
General alarm bell, switch.

§ 131.835

The switch in the pilothouse that activates the general alarm bell must be
clearly and permanently identified either by letters on a metal plate or with
a sign in red letters on a suitable background that state the following:
‘‘GENERAL ALARM.’’
§ 131.810

General alarm bell.

Each general alarm bell must be
identified by red letters at least 13 millimeters (1⁄2-inch) high that state the
following:
‘‘GENERAL
ALARM—
WHEN BELL RINGS GO TO YOUR
STATION.’’
§ 131.815 Alarm for fixed gaseous fireextinguishing system.
Each alarm for a fixed gaseous fireextinguishing system must be conspicuously identified, using the following statement: ‘‘WHEN ALARM
SOUNDS, LEAVE AT ONCE: [CARBON
DIOXIDE]
[HALON]
BEING
RELEASED.’’
§ 131.820 Branch lines
guishing system.

of

fire-extin-

The valves of each branch line in the
fire extinguishing system must be
plainly and permanently marked, indicating the spaces served.
§ 131.825 Controls of fire-extinguishing
system.
Each control cabinet or space containing a valve or manifold for a fire
extinguishing system must be distinctly marked in conspicuous red letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches)
high that state the following: ‘‘FIRE
APPARATUS FOR [CARBON DIOXIDE] [HALON]’’.

§ 131.840

Fire-hose stations.

Each fire station must be identified
in red letters and figures at least 50
millimeters (2 inches) high that state
the following: ‘‘FIRE STATION #1,’’
‘‘* * * 2,’’ ‘‘* * * 3,’’ and so on. Where
the hose is not so stowed in the open or
behind glass as to be readily seen, this
identification must be so placed as to
be readily seen from a distance.

Emergency lighting.

Emergency lighting must be marked
with a letter ‘‘E’’ at least 13 millimeters (1⁄2-inch) high.
§ 131.845 Instructions for shift of steering gear.
(a) Instructions, including diagrams,
for a shift of steering gear and for a
shift to the alternative steering stations must be on water-resistant material and posted at each steering station
and in the steering-engine room, relating, in order, the different steps to
take in either shift.
(b) The instructions must indicate
each clutch or pin to be ‘‘in’’ or ‘‘out’’
and each valve or switch to be ‘‘open’’
or ‘‘closed’’ in a shift to any means of
steering for which the vessel is
equipped.
(c) The instructions must specify
that each steering wheel or lever, and
each rudder, must be amidships before
any shift of steering gear or steering
stations.
(d) Each clutch, gear, wheel, lever,
valve, or switch used during any shift
of steering gear or steering stations
must be numbered or lettered on a
metal plate or painted so that the
numbers or letters are recognizable at
a reasonable distance.
§ 131.850

§ 131.830

Portable fire extinguishers.

(a) Except as provided by paragraph
(b) of this section, ach portable fire extinguisher must be marked with a
number, and the site of its stowage
must be marked with a corresponding
number at least 13 millimeters (1⁄2inch) high.
(b) If only one type and size of portable fire extinguisher is carried, the
number may be omitted.

Rudder orders.

At each steering station there must
be installed a suitable notice on the
wheel or lever, or in some other place
directly in the helmsman’s line of
sight, to indicate the direction in
which to turn the wheel or lever for
‘‘right rudder’’ and for ‘‘left rudder.’’
§ 131.855

Lifeboats and rescue boats.

(a) The following must be plainly
marked or painted on each side of the

462

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00472

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.875

bow of each lifeboat and rescue boat in
block capital letters and numbers:
(1) The name of the vessel.
(2) The number of the boat. (The
boats on each side of the vessel must be
numbered from forward to aft. If there
are boats on both sides of the vessel,
the odd numbers must be on the starboard side.)
(3) For each vessel in ocean service,
the name of the port whose marking on
the stern is required by § 67.123 of this
chapter.
(b) The following must be plainly
marked or painted on each side of the
bow of each lifeboat and rescue boat in
block capital letters and numbers:
(1) The length and beam of the boat.
(2) The number of persons the boat
will hold. This number must—
(i) Be the number of persons the boat
is equipped for; and
(ii) Not be greater than the number
of persons the boat is approved for, as
shown on its nameplate.
(c) The following must be plainly
marked or painted on each lifeboat and
rescue boat, visible from above the
boat:
(1) The number of the boat.
(2) The name of the vessel.
(d) Each lifeboat and rescue boat
must be marked with Type II retro-reflective material approved under subpart 164.018 of this chapter. The arrangement of the retro-reflective material must comply with IMO Resolution
A.658(16).
§ 131.860

Rigid liferafts.

(a) The following must be plainly
marked or painted, near one entrance
of each rigid liferaft:
(1) The name of the vessel.
(2) For each vessel in ocean service,
the name of the port whose marking on
the stern is required by § 67.123 of this
chapter.
(b) The length of the painter must be
plainly marked or painted, near one entrance of each rigid liferaft.
(c) The number of persons the rigid
liferaft is approved for must be plainly
marked or painted, over each entrance
to each raft, in letters and numbers at
least 102 millimeters (4 inches) high
and in a color contrasting to that of
the raft. This number must—

(1) Be the number of persons the rigid
liferaft is equipped for; and
(2) Not be greater than the number of
persons the rigid liferaft is approved
for, as shown on its nameplate.
(d) The rigid liferaft must be marked
with the words ‘‘SOLAS A pack’’ or
‘‘SOLAS B pack’’, to reflect the pack
inside.
§ 131.865 Inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatus.
The number of the inflatable liferaft
or inflatable buoyant apparatus and
the number of persons it is approved
for must be marked or painted, in a
conspicuous place in the immediate vicinity of each raft and each apparatus,
in letters and numbers at least 38 millimeters (1–1⁄2 inches) high and in a color
contrasting to that of the raft or apparatus. Each raft or apparatus stowed on
the side of a vessel must be numbered
like a liferaft in compliance with
§ 199.178 (c) and (d) of this chapter. No
letters or numbers may go on the liferaft or on the container of the apparatus.
§ 131.870 Life floats and buoyant apparatus.
(a) The name of the vessel must be
plainly marked or painted on each life
float or buoyant apparatus, and on
each oar and paddle.
(b) The number of persons each life
float or buoyant apparatus is approved
for must be plainly marked or painted
on each float or apparatus in letters
and numbers at least 38 millimeters (1–
1⁄2 inches) high and in a color contrasting to that of the float or apparatus. This number must—
(1) Be the number of persons the float
or apparatus is equipped for; and
(2) Not be greater than the number of
persons the float or apparatus is approved for, as shown on its nameplate.
§ 131.875 Lifejackets, immersion suits,
and ring buoys.
(a) Each lifejacket, immersion suit,
and ring life buoy must be marked in
block capital letters with the vessel’s
name.
(b) Each container for lifejackets and
immersion suits must be marked in letters and numbers at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high with the number,

463

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00473

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.880

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

identity, or IMO symbol specified by
IMO Resolution A.760(18), and size of
the items stowed inside.
(c) Each ring buoy on a vessel in
ocean service must be marked in block
capital letters with the name of the
port whose marking on the stern of the
vessel is required by § 67.123 of this
chapter.
(d) Each stowage site for a ring buoy
must be marked ‘‘LIFE BUOY’’ or
marked with the IMO symbol.
(e) Each lifejacket must be marked
with Type I retro-reflective material
approved under subpart 164.018 of this
chapter. The arrangement of the retroreflective material must comply with
IMO Resolution A.658(16).
(f) Each ring life buoy must be
marked with Type I or II retro-reflective material approved under subpart
164.018 of this chapter. The arrangement of the retro-reflective material
must comply with IMO Resolution
A.658(16).

must be clearly marked to show what
system each controls.
§ 131.899

Fire dampers.

Each fire damper installed within the
boundary of a space protected by a
fixed fire extinguishing system must be
fitted with an indicator showing
whether the damper is open or closed
and must be marked with red letters at
least 13 millimeters (1⁄2-inch) high stating ‘‘FIRE DAMPER’’ and, as otherwise appropriate, identifying the space
served by the fire damper.

Subpart I—Miscellaneous
§ 131.905

Statutory penalties.

The name of the vessel must be plainly marked or painted on each Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and on each Search and
Rescue Transponder (SART), except on
an EPIRB or SART—
(a) In an inflatable liferaft; or
(b) Permanently installed in a survival craft.

(a) The marine-safety statutes and
other statutes impose criminal and
civil penalties for violating the applicable provisions of this subchapter.
Possible sanctions include:
(1) Assessment and collection of civil
monetary penalty.
(2) Criminal prosecution, where no
loss of life results.
(3) Criminal prosecution for manslaughter, where loss of life results
from violating marine-safety statutes
or regulations or from misconduct,
negligence, or inattention to duty.
(4) Libel against vessel.
(b) 46 U.S.C. Chapter 77 allows, in addition to the foregoing, the suspension
or revocation of licenses, certificates,
or documents issued by the Coast
Guard, for incompetence, misconduct,
or negligence or for violating marinesafety statutes or regulations.

§ 131.893 Watertight doors and watertight hatches.

§ 131.910 Notices to mariners and aids
to navigation.

Each watertight door in a bulkhead
that must be watertight in compliance
with the requirements in part 174 of
this chapter, and each watertight
hatch, must be marked on both sides in
letters at least 50 millimeters (2
inches) high that state the following:
‘‘WATERTIGHT
DOOR—KEEP
CLOSED EXCEPT FOR PASSAGE’’ or
‘‘WATERTIGHT
HATCH—KEEP
CLOSED WHEN NOT IN USE’’.

Each master and mate shall acquaint
himself or herself with the latest information published by the Coast Guard
and the National Imagery and Mapping
Agency regarding aids to navigation in
the area in which the vessel operates.

§ 131.896

No person may be in the pilothouse
while the vessel is under way, unless
connected with the navigation of the

§ 131.880

Fire hoses and axes.

Each fire hose and axe must be
marked with the vessel’s name.
§ 131.890

EPIRBs and SARTs.

Remote stopping-systems.

The remote stopping-systems required by § 129.540 of this subchapter

[CGD 82–004 and CGD 86–074, 62 FR 49340,
Sept. 19, 1997, as amended by USCG–2001–
10224, 66 FR 48620, Sept. 21, 2001]

§ 131.915 Persons allowed in pilothouse and on navigational bridge.

464

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00474

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 131.970

vessel or authorized for good cause by
the master or mate on watch.
§ 131.920 Level of manning.
Each vessel must carry the personnel
required by the Certificate of Inspection, as determined by the cognizant
OCMI, based on an evaluation under
part 15 of this chapter.
§ 131.925 Compliance with provisions
of Certificate of Inspection.
The master of the vessel shall ensure
compliance with each provision of the
Certificate of Inspection. Nothing in
this subchapter prevents the master’s
diverting the vessel from the route prescribed in the Certificate, or taking
other steps necessary and prudent to
assist vessels in distress or to handle
similar emergencies.
§ 131.930 Display of stability letter.
If the Coast Guard issues a stability
letter under § 170.120 of this chapter,
the letter must be readily available to
the person on watch in the pilothouse
of the vessel.

(1) Positions of the dampers;
(2) Site of the remote means of stopping the fans; and
(3) Identification of the fans serving
each section.
§ 131.950 Placard on lifesaving signals
and helicopter recovery.
(a) Each vessel must have readily
available to the person on watch in the
pilothouse a placard (Form CG–811)
containing instructions—
(1) For the use of lifesaving signals
set forth in Regulation 16, Chapter V,
of SOLAS 74/83; and
(2) In helicopter recovery.
(b) The signals must be employed by
vessels or persons in distress when
communicating with lifesaving stations and maritime rescue units.
§ 131.955

§ 131.960
§ 131.935 Prevention of oil pollution.
Each vessel must be operated in compliance with—
(a) Section 311 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as amended (33
U.S.C. 1321); and
(b) 33 CFR parts 151, 155, and 156.
§ 131.940 Marine sanitation device.
Each vessel with installed toilet facilities must have a marine sanitation
device in compliance with 33 CFR part
159.
§ 131.945 Display of plans.
Each vessel must have a permanently
exhibited, for the guidance of the master and crew members, general arrangement plans showing, for each
deck, the various fire-retardant bulkheads together with particulars of
the—
(a) Fire-detection systems;
(b) Manual-alarm systems;
(c) Fire-extinguishing systems;
(d) Fire doors;
(e) Means of ingress to the different
compartments; and
(f) Ventilating-systems, including
the—

Display of license.

Each master and licensed officer on
an vessel shall conspicuously display
his or her license in compliance with 46
U.S.C. 7110.
Use of auto-pilot.

When the automatic pilot is used in
areas of high traffic density, conditions
of restricted visibility, or any other
hazardous navigational situations, the
master shall ensure that—
(a) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the vessel’s
steering;
(b) A competent person is ready at all
times to take over steering control;
and
(c) The changeover from automatic
to manual control of the vessel’s steering and the reverse is made by, or
under the supervision of, the master or
officer of the watch.
§ 131.965

Sounding of whistle.

No vessel may sound its whistle within any harbor limits of the United
States unless it needs to.
§ 131.970

Unauthorized lighting.

No master of a vessel may authorize
or permit the vessel’s carrying of any
lighting not required by law that will
interfere in any way with any other
vessel’s ability to distinguish the vessel’s navigation lighting.

465

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00475

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189

§ 131.975
§ 131.975

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–05 Edition)

Subpart A—Fire Main

Searchlights.

No person may flash, or cause to be
flashed, the rays of a searchlight or
other blinding light onto the bridge or
into the pilothouse of any vessel, OSV
or other, under way.
§ 131.980

Lookouts and watches.

Nothing in this part exonerates any
master or officer of the watch from the
consequences of any neglect to keep a
proper lookout or to maintain a proper
fire watch, or of any neglect of any precaution that may be required by the
ordinary practice of seamen, by general
prudence, or by the special circumstances of the case. Each master
shall set added watches when necessary
to guard against fire or other danger
and to give an alarm in case of accident or disaster.

PART 132—FIRE-PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT
Subpart A—Fire Main
Sec.
132.100
132.110
132.120
132.130

General.
Piping.
Fire pumps.
Fire stations.

Subpart B—Portable and Semiportable Fire
Extinguishers
132.210 Classification.
132.220 Installation.
132.230 Spare charges.
132.240 Stowage of semiportable fire extinguishers.

Subpart C—Miscellaneous
132.310 Fixed fire-extinguishing systems for
paint lockers.
132.320 Helicopter-landing decks.
132.330 Fire monitors.
132.340 Equipment installed although not
required.
132.350 Tests and inspections of fire-extinguishing equipment.
132.360 Fire axes.
132.370 Added requirements for fixed independent and portable tanks.
AUTHORITY: 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3307; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No.
0170.1.
SOURCE: CGD 82–004 and CGD 86–074, 62 FR
49348, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted.

§ 132.100 General.
(a) Except as provided by paragraphs
(b) and (c) of this section, each vessel
must be equipped with a fire main that
complies with this subpart.
(b) Each vessel of less than 100 gross
tons and not more than 19.8 meters (65
feet) in length may have, instead of a
fire main that complies with this subpart, a hand-operated pump and a hose
capable of providing an effective
stream of water to each part of the vessel.
(c) A garden hose of nominal inside
diameter of at least 16 millimeters (5/8inch) complies with paragraph (b) of
this section if the hose is—
(1) Of good commercial grade and is
constructed of an inner rubber tube,
plies of braided-fabric reinforcement,
and an outer cover made of rubber or
equivalent fire-resistant material; and
(2) Fitted with a commercial gardenhose nozzle of high-grade bronze or
equivalent metal capable of providing a
solid stream and a spray pattern.
§ 132.110 Piping.
(a) Except as provided for liftboats by
§ 134.180 of this subchapter, each fitting, flange, valve, and run of piping
must meet the applicable requirements
of part 128 of this subchapter. Piping
must be—
(1) Hot-dip galvanized;
(2) At least extra-heavy schedule; or
(3) Of a suitable corrosion-resistant
material.
(b) Each distribution cut-off valve
must be marked in compliance with
§ 131.820 of this subchapter.
§ 132.120 Fire pumps.
(a) Except as provided by § 132.100(b)
of this subpart, each vessel must be
equipped with one self-priming powerdriven fire pump capable of delivering
a single stream of water from the highest hydrant, through the hose and nozzle at a Pitot-tube pressure of at least
345 kPa (50 psi [pounds per square
inch]).
(b) Each fire pump must be fitted on
the discharge side with a pressure
gauge.
(c) Each fire pump must be fitted on
the discharge side with a relief valve

466

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:00 Oct 27, 2005

Jkt 205189

PO 00000

Frm 00476

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\205189.XXX

205189