Title 46—Shipping--Volume 1
PART 141—LIFESAVING
§ 141.100   Purpose.
This part contains requirements for lifesaving equipment, arrangements, systems, and procedures on towing vessels.
§ 141.105   Applicability and delayed implementation for existing vessels.
(a) This part applies to all towing vessels subject to this subchapter.
(1) An existing towing vessel must comply with the requirements in this part no later than either July 20, 2018 or the date the vessel obtains a Certificate of Inspection (COI), whichever date is earlier.
(2) The delayed implementation provisions in paragraph (a)(1) of this section do not apply to a new towing vessel.
(b) A towing vessel on an international voyage, subject to SOLAS (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), must meet the applicable requirements in subchapter W of this chapter.
(c) Towing vessels in compliance with SOLAS Chapter III will be deemed in compliance with this part.
§ 141.200   General provisions.
(a) Unless otherwise specified, all lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section. Lifesaving equipment for personal use which is not required by this part need not be approved by the Commandant.
(b) A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment . Each cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) may be contacted for information concerning approved equipment and materials.
(c) Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated. However, the towing vessel must be equipped per the requirements of its certificated route at the time of certification.
§ 141.225   Alternate arrangements or equipment.
(a) Alternate arrangements or equipment to comply with this part may be approved in accordance with § 136.115 of this subchapter.
(b) If a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) is applicable to the towing vessel, alternative means for complying with §§ 141.340, 141.350, and 141.360 may be approved by a third-party organization (TPO) and documented in the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
(c) The Coast Guard may approve a novel lifesaving appliance or arrangement as an equivalent if it has performance characteristics at least equivalent to the appliance or arrangement required under this subchapter, and if it has been evaluated and tested under IMO Resolution A.520(13) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter). Requests for evaluation of novel lifesaving appliances must be sent to the Commandant (CG-ENG).
(d) The cognizant OCMI may require a towing vessel to carry specialized or additional lifesaving equipment if:
(1) He or she determines that the conditions of the voyage render the requirements of this part inadequate; or
(2) The towing vessel is operated in globally remote areas or severe environments not covered under this part. Such areas may include, but are not limited to, polar regions, remote islands, areas of extreme weather, and other remote areas where timely emergency assistance cannot be anticipated.
§ 141.230   Readiness.
The master must ensure that all lifesaving equipment is properly maintained and ready for use at all times.
§ 141.235   Inspection, testing, and maintenance.
(a) All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS, if the vessel has a TSMS.
(b) Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel. The following minimum information is required:
(1) The dates when inspections and tests were performed, the number or other identification of each unit inspected and tested, the results of the inspections and tests, and the name of the crewmember, surveyor or auditor and any others conducting the inspections and tests; and
(2) Receipts and other records documenting these inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI and made available upon request.
§ 141.240   Requirements for training crews.
Training requirements are contained in part 140 of this subchapter.
§ 141.305   Survival craft requirements for towing vessels.
(a) General purpose. Survival craft provide a means for survival when evacuation from the towing vessel is necessary. The craft and related equipment should be selected so as to provide for the basic needs of the crew, such as shelter from life threatening elements, until rescue resources are expected to arrive, taking into account the scope and nature of the towing vessel's operations.
(b) Functional requirements. A towing vessel's survival craft must meet the functional requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this section. Functional requirements describe the objectives of the regulation. Survival craft must:
(1) Be readily accessible;
(2) Have an aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the total number of individuals onboard, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section;
(3) Provide a means for sheltering its complement appropriate to the route;
(4) Provide minimum equipment for survival if recovery time is expected to be greater than 24 hours; and
(5) Be marked so that an individual not familiar with the operation of the specific survival craft has sufficient guidance to utilize the craft for its intended use.
(c) Compliance options. A towing vessel must meet the applicable functional requirements. Compliance with the functional requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be met by one of these two options:
(1) A towing vessel that meets the prescriptive requirements of paragraph (d) of this section will have complied with the functional requirements; or
(2) If an owner or managing operator chooses to meet the functional requirement through means other than as specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the means must be accepted by the cognizant OCMI or, if the vessel has a TSMS, then by a TPO and, in the latter case, documented in the TSMS applicable to the vessel. The design, testing, and examination scheme for meeting these functional requirements must be included as part of the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
(d) Prescriptive requirements. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (d)(2) through (4) of this section, each towing vessel must carry the survival craft specified in Table 141.305 of this section, as appropriate for the towing vessel, in an aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of individuals onboard.
Table 141.305—Survival Craft
1 No survival craft are required unless deemed necessary by the cognizant OCMI or a TSMS applicable to the towing vessel.
2 A skiff that meets requirements in § 141.330(a) through (f) may be substituted for all or part of required equipment.
3 Inflatable buoyant apparatus (approval series 160.010) may be accepted or substituted if the vessel carries a 406 MHz Cat 1 emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) meeting 47 CFR part 80.
(2) The following approved survival craft may be substituted for survival craft required by Table 141.305 of this section:
(i) A lifeboat approved under approval series 160.135 may be substituted for any survival craft required by this section, provided it is arranged and equipped in accordance with part 199 of this chapter.
(ii) An inflatable liferaft approved under approval series 160.051 or 160.151, may be substituted for an inflatable buoyant apparatus or rigid buoyant apparatus.
(iii) An inflatable buoyant apparatus approved under approval series 160.010 may be substituted for a rigid buoyant apparatus.
(iv) A life float approved under approval series 160.027 may be substituted for a rigid buoyant apparatus.
(3) Unless it is determined to be necessary by the cognizant OCMI under § 141.225, or a TSMS applicable to the towing vessel, each towing vessel that operates solely on rivers need not carry survival craft if:
(i) It carries a 406 MHz Cat 1 EPIRB meeting 47 CFR part 80;
(ii) It is designed for pushing ahead and has a TSMS that contains procedures for evacuating crewmembers onto the tow or other safe location; or
(iii) It operates within 1 mile of shore.
(4) A towing vessel which is not required by this part to carry survival craft may carry a non-approved survival craft as excess equipment, provided that it is maintained in good working condition and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.
§ 141.310   Stowage of survival craft.
Survival craft must be stowed in accordance with the requirements of § 199.130 of this chapter, as far as is practicable on existing towing vessels.
§ 141.315   Marking of survival craft and stowage locations.
Survival craft and stowage locations must be marked in accordance with the requirements of §§ 199.176 and 199.178 of this chapter.
§ 141.320   Inflatable survival craft placards.
Every towing vessel equipped with an inflatable survival craft must have, in conspicuous places near each inflatable survival craft, approved placards or other posted instructions for launching and inflating inflatable survival craft.
§ 141.325   Survival craft equipment.
(a) Each item of survival craft equipment must be of good quality, effective for the purpose it is intended to serve, and secured to the craft.
(b) Each towing vessel carrying a lifeboat must carry equipment in accordance with § 199.175 of this chapter.
(c) Each life float and rigid buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, a painter, and floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010.
§ 141.330   Skiffs as survival craft.
A skiff may be substituted for all or part of the approved survival craft for towing vessels that do not operate more than 3 miles from shore. A skiff used as a survival craft does not require Coast Guard approval but must:
(a) Be capable of being launched within 5 minutes under all circumstances;
(b) Be of suitable size for all persons on board the towing vessel;
(c) Not exceed the loading specified on the capacity plate required by 33 CFR 183.23;
(d) Not contain modifications affecting the buoyancy or structure of the skiff;
(e) Be of suitable design for the vessel's intended service; and
(f) Be marked in accordance with §§ 199.176 and 199.178 of this chapter.
§ 141.340   Lifejackets.
(a) Each towing vessel must carry at least one appropriately-sized lifejacket, approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255 for each person on board.
(b) For towing vessels with berthing aboard, a sufficient number of additional lifejackets must be carried so that a lifejacket is immediately available for persons at each normally manned watch station.
(c) Where alternative means are used to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, there must be at least one lifejacket for each person onboard. Any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of lifejackets in such a manner as to facilitate immediate accessibility at normally occupied spaces including, but not limited to, accommodation spaces and watch stations.
(d) Lifejackets must be readily accessible.
(e) If the towing vessel carries inflatable lifejackets they must be of similar design to each other and have the same mode of operation.
(f) Each lifejacket must be marked:
(1) In block capital letters with the name of the vessel; and
(2) With Type I retro-reflective material approved under approval series 164.018. The arrangement of the retro-reflective material must meet IMO Resolution A.658(16) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter).
(g) Lifejackets must have the following attachments and fittings:
(1) Each lifejacket must have a lifejacket light approved under approval series 161.012 or 161.112 securely attached to the front shoulder area of the lifejacket.
(2) Each lifejacket must have a whistle firmly secured by a cord to the lifejacket.
(h) Stowage positions for lifejackets stowed in a berthing space or stateroom and all lifejacket containers must be marked in block capital letters and numbers with the minimum quantity, identity, and, if sizes other than adult or universal sizes are used on the vessel, the size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container. The equipment may be identified in words or with the appropriate symbol from IMO Resolution A.760(18) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter).
(i) Wearable PFDs approved in accordance with §§ 160.064, 160.076, 160.264, or 160.276 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, may be carried as additional equipment. Additional equipment is not acceptable in lieu of any portion of the required lifejackets.
§ 141.350   Immersion suits.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, each towing vessel operating north of lat. 32° N. or south of lat. 32° S. must carry the number of immersion suits as prescribed in this paragraph (a):
(1) Each towing vessel operating in those regions must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard.
(2) In addition to the immersion suits required under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, each watch station, work station, and industrial work site must have enough immersion suits to equal the number of persons normally on watch in, or assigned to, the station or site at one time. However, an immersion suit is not required at a station or site for a person whose cabin or berthing area (and the immersion suits stowed in that location) is readily accessible to the station or site.
(3) Where alternative means are used to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, there must be at least one immersion suit of the appropriate size for each person onboard. Any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of immersion suits in such a manner as to facilitate immediate accessibility at normally occupied spaces including, but not limited to, accommodation spaces and watch stations.
(4) A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.
(b) Immersion suits carried on towing vessels must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.
§ 141.360   Lifebuoys.
(a) A towing vessel must carry lifebuoys as follows:
(1) A towing vessel less than 26 feet length must carry a minimum of one lifebuoy of not less than 510 millimeters (20 inches) in diameter.
(2) A towing vessel of at least 26 feet, but less than 79 feet, in length must carry a minimum of two lifebuoys located on opposite sides of the vessel where personnel are normally present. Lifebuoys must be at least 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter.
(3) A towing vessel 79 feet or more in length must carry four lifebuoys, with one lifebuoy located on each side of the operating station. Lifebuoys must be at least 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter.
(4) Where alternative means are used to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of lifebuoys in such a manner as to facilitate rapid deployment of lifebuoys from exposed decks, including the pilot house.
(b) Each lifebuoy on a towing vessel must:
(1) Be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150;
(2) Be capable of being rapidly cast loose;
(3) Not be permanently secured to the vessel in any way;
(4) Be marked in block capital letters with the name of the vessel; and
(5) Be orange in color, if on a vessel on an oceans or coastwise route.
(c) Lifebuoys must have the following attachments and fittings:
(1) At least one lifebuoy must have a lifeline, secured around the body of the lifebuoy. If more than one lifebuoy is carried, at least one must not have a lifeline attached. Each lifeline on a lifebuoy must:
(i) Be buoyant;
(ii) Be of at least 18.3 meters (60 feet) in length;
(iii) Be non-kinking;
(iv) Have a diameter of at least 7.9 millimeters ( 5/16 inch);
(v) Have a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons (1,124 pounds); and
(vi) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
(2) At least two lifebuoys on a towing vessel greater than 26 feet must be fitted with a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010 or 161.110, unless the towing vessel is limited to daytime operation, in which case no floating electric water light is required.
(3) If a towing vessel carries only one lifebuoy, the lifebuoy must be fitted with a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010 or 160.110, unless the towing vessel is limited to daytime operation, in which case no floating electric water light is required. The water light must be attached by the lanyard with a corrosion-resistant clip to allow the water light to be quickly disconnected from the lifebuoy. The clip must have a strength of at least 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds).
(4) Each lifebuoy with a floating electric water light must have a lanyard of at least 910 millimeters (3 feet) in length, but not more than 1,830 millimeters (6 feet), securing the water light around the body of the lifebuoy.
§ 141.370   Miscellaneous life saving requirements for towing vessels.
Miscellaneous lifesaving requirements are summarized in Table 141.370 of this section. Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated.
Table 141.370—Miscellaneous Lifesaving Equipment
1 Great Lakes service only.
§ 141.375   Visual distress signals.
(a) Carriage requirement. A towing vessel must carry a combination of day and night visual distress signals indicated in Table 141.370 of § 141.370 for specified areas where the vessel operates.
(b) Day and night visual distress signals. Hand-held red flare distress signals, approved under approval series 160.021 or 160.121, and hand-held rocket-propelled parachute red flares, approved under approval series 160.036 or 160.136, are acceptable as both day and night signals.
(c) Signals for day visual distress only. Floating orange smoke signals, approved under approval series 160.022, 160.122, or 160.157, and hand-held orange smoke distress signals, approved under approval series 160.037, are only acceptable as day signals.
(d) Limited geographic area. A vessel operating in a limited geographic area on a short run limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry visual distress signals under this section.
(e) Stowage. Each pyrotechnic distress signal carried to meet this section must be stowed in either:
(1) A portable watertight container carried at the operating station. Portable watertight containers for pyrotechnic distress signals must be of a bright color and must be clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with “DISTRESS SIGNALS”; or
(2) A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.
§ 141.380   Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).
(a) Each towing vessel operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80.
(b) When the towing vessel is underway, the EPIRB must be stowed in its float-free bracket with the controls set for automatic activation and be mounted in a manner so that it will float free if the towing vessel sinks.
(c) The name of the towing vessel must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.
(d) The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.
Note to paragraph (d). Registration information can be found at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ .
§ 141.385   Line throwing appliance.
Each towing vessel operating in oceans and coastwise service must have a line throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.040.
(a) Stowage. The line throwing appliance and its equipment must be readily accessible for use.
(b) Additional equipment. The line throwing appliance must have:
(1) The equipment on the list provided by the manufacturer with the approved appliance; and
(2) An auxiliary line that:
(i) Is at least 450 meters (1,500 feet) long;
(ii) Has a breaking strength of at least 40 kilonewtons (9,000 pounds-force); and
(iii) Is, if synthetic, of a dark color or certified by the manufacturer to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.