StatA

§ 183.540

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–98 Edition)

other flammable liquids must be explosion-proof or be part of an intrinsically
safe system.
(c) Explosion-proof equipment and intrinsically safe systems must meet the
requirements of § 111.105 in subchapter
J of this chapter.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 997, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR
24465, May 15, 1996]

§ 183.540 Elevators.
Each elevator on a vessel must meet
the requirements of American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) A17.1,
‘‘Safety Code for Elevators, and Escalators,’’ or other standard specified by
the Commandant.
§ 183.550 General alarm systems.
All vessels with overnight accommodations must be equipped with a
general alarm system. The public address system required by § 184.610 of
this chapter may be used to sound the
general alarm signal.

PART 184—VESSEL CONTROL AND
MISCELLANEOUS SYSTEMS AND
EQUIPMENT
Subpart A—General Provisions
Sec.
184.100
184.115

General requirement.
Applicability to existing vessels.

General.
Restrictions.
Heating equipment.
Cooking equipment.
Gas systems.

Subpart C—Mooring and Towing
Equipment
184.300

Ground tackle and mooring lines.

Subpart D—Navigation Equipment
184.402
184.404
184.410
184.420

184.602
184.610
184.620

Internal communications systems.
Public address systems.
Propulsion engine control systems.

Subpart G—Miscellaneous
184.702 Pollution prevention equipment and
procedures.
184.704 Marine sanitation devices.
184.710 First-aid kits.
AUTHORITY: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234,
45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; 49 CFR
1.46.
SOURCE: CGD 85–080, 61 FR 1002, Jan. 10,
1996, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 184.100 General requirement.
(a) Vessel control systems and other
miscellaneous systems and equipment
required by this part must be suitable
for the purposes intended.
(b) The cognizant Officer in Charge,
Marine Inspection (OCMI) may require
navigation, control, or communications equipment, in excess of the equipment specifically required by this part,
on a vessel that is of a novel design, operates at high speeds in restricted or
high traffic areas, operates in a dynamically supported mode, or operates on
extended routes or in remote locations.
§ 184.115 Applicability to existing vessels.
(a) An existing vessel need not comply with §§ 184.402(c), 184.404, 184.410,
and 184.602 unless the cognizant OCMI
specifically requires compliance due to
the route or service of the vessel.
(b) An existing vessel need not comply with the requirements of § 184.610
until March 11, 2001, or 10 years after
its keel was laid or the vessel was at a
similar stage of construction, whichever is later.
(c) An existing vessel need not comply with the requirements of § 184.710
until March 11, 1997.

Subpart B—Cooking and Heating
184.200
184.202
184.210
184.220
184.240

Subpart F—Control and Internal
Communications Systems

Compasses.
Radars.
Electronic position fixing devices.
Charts and nautical publications.

Subpart E—Radio

Subpart B—Cooking and Heating

184.502 Requirements of the Federal Communications Commission.
184.506 Emergency broadcast placard.
184.510 Recommended emergency broadcast
instructions.

§ 184.200 General.
Cooking and heating equipment must
be suitable for marine use. Equipment
designed and installed in accordance

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§ 184.240

with American Boat and Yacht Council
(ABYC) A–3, ‘‘Galley Stoves,’’ and A–7,
‘‘Boat Heating Systems,’’ or with National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) 302, ‘‘Pleasure and Commercial
Motor Craft,’’ complies with this requirement, except as restricted by
§ 184.202 of this part.

ing pots, must be installed on a cooking range.
(f) Electric connections for a cooking
appliance must be dripproof.

§ 184.202 Restrictions.

Cooking systems using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) must meet the following requirements:
(a) The design, installation and testing of each LPG system must meet
ABYC A–1, ‘‘Marine Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Systems,’’ Chapter 6 of
NFPA 302, or other standard specified
by the Commandant.
(b) The design, installation and testing of each CNG system must meet
ABYC A–22, ‘‘Marine Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Systems,’’ Chapter 6 of
NFPA 302, or other standard specified
by the Commandant.
(c) Cooking systems using Chapter 6
of NFPA 302 as the standard must meet
the following additional requirements:
(1) The storage or use of CNG containers within the accommodation
area, machinery spaces, bilges, or other
enclosed spaces is prohibited;
(2) LPG or CNG must be odorized in
accordance with ABYC A–1 appendix 4
or A–22 appendix 4, respectively;
(3) The marking and mounting of
LPG cylinders must be in accordance
with ABYC A–1 appendix 7; and
(4) LPG cylinders must be of the
vapor withdrawal type as specified in
ABYC A–1 section 1.7.
(d) Continuous pilot lights or automatic glow plugs are prohibited for an
LGP or CNG installation using ABYC
A–1 or A–22 as the standard.
(e) CNG installation using ABYC A–
22 as the standard must meet the following additional requirements:
(1) The storage or use of CNG containers within the accommodation
area, machinery spaces, bilges, or other
enclosed spaces is prohibited;
(2) CNG cylinders, regulating equipment, and safety equipment must meet
the installation, stowage, and testing
requirements of paragraph 6–5.12 of
NFPA 302.
(3) The use or stowage of stoves with
attached CNG cylinders is prohibited

(a) The use of gasoline for cooking,
heating, or lighting is prohibited on all
vessels.
(b) Fireplaces or other space heating
equipment with open flames are prohibited from being used on all vessels.
(c) Vessels permitted to use liquefied
and non-liquefied gases as cooking
fuels by 46 CFR part 147 must meet the
requirements in § 184.240 of this part.
The use of these fuels for cooking,
heating, and lighting on ferry vessels is
prohibited by part 147 in subchapter N
of this chapter.
§ 184.210 Heating equipment.
(a) Each heater must be so constructed and installed as to prevent
contact with combustible materials
such as towels and clothing.
(b) Each electric space heater must
be provided with a thermal cutout to
prevent overheating.
(c) Each heater element of an electric
space heater must be of an enclosed
type, and the element case or jacket
must be made of a corrosion resistant
material.
§ 184.220 Cooking equipment.
(a) Doors on a cooking appliance
must be provided with hinges and locking devices to prevent accidental opening in heavy seas.
(b) A cooking appliance must be installed to prevent movement in heavy
seas.
(c) For a grill or similar type of
cooking appliance, means must be provided to collect grease or fat and to
prevent its spillage on wiring or the
deck.
(d) Grab rails must be installed on a
cooking appliance when determined by
the cognizant OCMI to be necessary for
safety.
(e) Sea rails, with suitable barriers to
prevent accidental movement of cook-

[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 1002, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51358, Sept. 30, 1997]

§ 184.240

279

Gas systems.

§ 184.300

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–98 Edition)

as specified in paragraph 6–5.1 of NFPA
302.
(f) If the fuel supply line of an LPG
or CNG system enters an enclosed
space on the vessel, a remote shutoff
valve must be installed that can be operated from a position adjacent to the
appliance. The valve must be located
between the fuel tank and the point
where the fuel supply line enters the
enclosed portion of the vessel. A power
operated valve installed to meet this
requirement must be of a type that will
fail closed.
(g) The following variances from
ABYC A–1 section 1.12 are allowed for
CNG:
(1) The storage locker or housing access opening need not be in the top.
(2) The locker or housing need not be
above the waterline.
(h) The following variances from
NFPA 302 are allowed:
(1) The storage locker or housing for
CNG tank installations need not be
above the waterline as required by
paragraph 6–5.12.1.1(a);
(2) Ignition protection need not be
provided as required by paragraph 6–
5.4.

Subpart C—Mooring and Towing
Equipment
§ 184.300 Ground tackle and mooring
lines.
A vessel must be fitted with ground
tackle and mooring lines necessary for
the vessel to be safely anchored or
moored. The ground tackle and mooring lines provided must be satisfactory
for the size of the vessel, the waters on
which the vessel operates, subject to
the approval of the cognizant OCMI.

Subpart D—Navigation Equipment
§ 184.402 Compasses.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in
this section every vessel must be fitted
with a suitable magnetic compass designed for marine use, to be mounted
at the primary operating station.
(b) The following vessels need not be
fitted with a compass:
(1) A vessel on a rivers route;
(2) A non-self propelled vessel; and

(3) A vessel operating on short restricted routes on lakes, bays, and
sounds.
(c) Except on a vessel limited to daytime operations, the compass must be
illuminated.
§ 184.404 Radars.
(a) A vessel must be fitted with a
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) type accepted general marine
radar system for surface navigation
with a radar screen mounted at the primary operating station if:
(1) The vessel is self-propelled;
(2) The vessel has an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes
route; and
(3) The vessel carries more than 49
passengers.
(b) A ferry that carries more than 49
passengers on a rivers route not within
one mile of land must be fitted with a
FCC Type Accepted general marine
radar system for surface navigation
with a radar screen mounted at the primary operating station.
(c) The radar and its installation
must be suitable for the intended speed
and route of the vessel.
(d) A vessel operated on a short restricted route need not be fitted with a
radar if the cognizant OCMI determines
that a radar is not necessary due to the
vessel’s route and local weather conditions.
§ 184.410 Electronic position fixing devices.
A vessel on an oceans route must be
equipped with an electronic position
fixing device, capable of providing accurate fixes for the area in which the
vessel operates, to the satisfaction of
the cognizant OCMI.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 1002, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51358, Sept. 30, 1997]

§ 184.420 Charts and nautical publications.
(a) As appropriate for the intended
voyage, a vessel must carry adequate
and up-to-date:
(1) Charts of large enough scale to
make safe navigation possible;
(2) U.S. Coast Pilot or similar publication;
(3) Coast Guard Light List;
(4) Tide tables; and

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§ 184.602

(5) Current tables, or a river current
publication issued by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers or a river authority.
(b) Extracts from the publications
listed above for the areas to be
transited may be provided instead of
the complete publication.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 1002, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51358, Sept. 30, 1997]

Subpart E—Radio
§ 184.502 Requirements of the Federal
Communications Commission.
A vessel must comply with the applicable requirements for any radio and
Electronic Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) installations, including the requirements for a station license and installation certificates to
be issued by the Federal Communications Commission, as set forth in 47
CFR part 80.
§ 184.506 Emergency
placard.

broadcast

A durable placard must be posted
next to all radiotelephone installations
with the emergency broadcast instructions and information, specific to the
individual vessel.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 1002, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51358, Sept. 30, 1997]

§ 184.510 Recommended
broadcast instructions.

emergency

The following emergency broadcast
instructions, when placed on a placard,
will satisfy the requirement contained
in § 184.506 for an emergency broadcast
placard:
(a) Emergency Broadcast Instructions.
(1) Make sure your radiotelephone is
on.
(2) Select 156.8 MHz (channel 16 VHF)
or 2182 kHz. (Channel 16 VHF and 2182
kHz on SSB are for emergency and
calling purposes only.)
(3) Press microphone button and,
speaking slowly—clearly—calmly, say:
(i)
‘‘MAYDAY—MAYDAY—MAYDAY’’ for situations involving Immediate Danger to Life and Property; or
(ii) ‘‘PAN—PAN—PAN’’ for urgent
situations where there is No Immediate
Danger to Life or Property.

(4) Say: ‘‘THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S
NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME),
(INSERT VESSEL’S CALL SIGN),
OVER.’’
(5) Release the microphone button
briefly and listen for acknowledgment.
If no one answers, repeat steps 3 & 4.
(6) If there is no acknowledgment, or
if the Coast Guard or another vessel responds, say: ‘‘MAYDAY’’ OR ‘‘PAN’’,
(INSERT VESSEL’S NAME).’’
(7) DESCRIBE YOUR POSITION
using latitude and longitude coordinates, LORAN coordinates, or range
and bearing from a known point.
(8) STATE THE NATURE OF THE
DISTRESS.
(9) GIVE NUMBER OF PERSONS
ABOARD AND THE NATURE OF ANY
INJURIES.
(10) ESTIMATE THE PRESENT SEAWORTHINESS OF YOUR VESSEL.
(11) BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR
VESSEL: (INSERT LENGTH, COLOR,
HULL TYPE, TRIM, MASTS, POWER,
ANY ADDITIONAL DISTINGUISHING
FEATURES).
(12) Say: ‘‘I WILL BE LISTENING ON
CHANNEL 16/2182.’’
(13) End message by saying: ‘‘THIS IS
(INSERT VESSEL’S NAME & CALL
SIGN).’’
(14) If your situation permits, stand
by the radio to await further communications with the Coast Guard or another vessel. If no answer, repeat, then
try another channel.
(b) [Reserved]

Subpart F—Control and Internal
Communications Systems
§ 184.602 Internal communications systems.
(a) A vessel equipped with pilothouse
control must have a fixed means of
two-way communications from the operating station to the location where
the means of controlling the propulsion
machinery, required by § 184.620(a) of
this part, is located. Twin screw vessels
with pilothouse control for both engines are not required to have a fixed
communications system.
(b) A vessel equipped with auxiliary
means of steering, required by § 182.620
of this subchapter, must have a fixed
means of two-way communications

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§ 184.610

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–98 Edition)

from the operating station to the location where the auxiliary means of
steering is controlled.
(c) When the propulsion machinery of
a vessel cannot be controlled from the
operating station, an efficient communications system must be provided between the operating station and the
propulsion machinery space.
(d) When the locations addressed in
paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section are sufficiently close together, direct voice communications satisfactory to the cognizant OCMI is acceptable instead of the required fixed
means of communications.
(e) The OCMI may accept hand held
portable radios as satisfying the communications system requirement of
this section.
§ 184.610 Public address systems.
(a) Except as noted in paragraphs (d)
and (e) below, each vessel must be
equipped with a public address system.
(b) On a vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length, the public address system must be a fixed installation and be audible during normal operating conditions throughout the accommodation spaces and all other
spaces normally manned by crew members.
(c) A vessel with more than one passenger deck and a vessel with overnight accommodations must have the
public address system operable from
the operating station.
(d) On a vessel of not more than 19.8
meters (65 feet) in length, a battery
powered bullhorn may serve as the public address system if audible throughout the accommodation spaces of the
vessel during normal operating conditions. The bullhorn’s batteries are to
be continually maintained at a fully
charged level by use of a battery charger or other means acceptable to the
cognizant OCMI.
(e) On a vessel of not more than 19.8
meters (65 feet) in length carrying not
more than 49 passengers, a public address system is not required if a public
announcement made from operating
station without amplification can be
heard throughout the accommodation
spaces of the vessel during normal operating conditions, to the satisfaction
of the cognizant OCMI.

§ 184.620 Propulsion
systems.

engine

control

(a) A vessel must have two independent means of controlling each propulsion engine. Control must be provided
for the engine speed, direction of shaft
rotation, and engine shutdown.
(1) One of the means may be the ability to readily disconnect the remote
engine control linkage to permit local
operation.
(2) A multiple engine vessel with
independent remote propulsion control
for each engine need not have a second
means of controlling each engine.
(b) In addition to the requirements of
paragraph (a), a vessel must have a reliable means for shutting down a propulsion engine, at the main pilothouse
control station, which is independent
of the engine’s speed control.
(c) A propulsion engine control system, including pilothouse control,
must be designed so that a loss of
power to the control system does not
result in an increase in shaft speed or
propeller pitch.

Subpart G—Miscellaneous
§ 184.702 Pollution prevention equipment and procedures.
A vessel must comply with the applicable design, equipment, personnel,
procedures, and record requirements of
33 CFR parts 151, 155, and 156.
§ 184.704

Marine sanitation devices.

A vessel with installed toilet facilities must have a marine sanitation device that complies with 33 CFR part
159.
§ 184.710

First-aid kits.

A vessel must carry either a first-aid
kit approved under approval series
160.041 or a kit with equivalent contents and instructions. For equivalent
kits, the contents must be stowed in a
suitable, watertight container that is
marked ‘‘First-Aid Kit’’. A first-aid kit
must be easily visible and readily
available to the crew.
[CGD 85–080, 62 FR 51359, Sept. 30, 1997]

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