1625-0082 Stat/Authority

§ 164.74

33 CFR Ch. I (7–1–23 Edition)

TABLE 164.72—EQUIPMENT, CHARTS OR MAPS, AND PUBLICATIONS FOR TOWING VESSELS OF 12
METERS OR MORE IN LENGTH

Marine Radar:
Towing Vessels of
Less Than 300 GT.

Towing Vessels of 300
GT or More.

Searchlight ..................
VHF-FM Radio ............
Magnetic Compass .....
Swing-Meter ................
Echo Depth-Sounding
Device.
Electronic Position-Fixing Device.
Charts or Maps ...........

General Publications ...

Western rivers

U.S. navigable waters other
than western rivers

Waters seaward of navigable
waters and 3 NM or more from
shore on the Great Lakes

RTCM Paper 71–95/SC112–
STD Version 1.1, Display
Category II 1 Stabilization
Category BRAVO.
RTCM Paper 191–93/SC112–X
Version 1.2 (except the
Azmuth stabilization requirement in paragraph 3.10). 1.
X
X
X3
X3

RTCM Paper 71–95/SC112–
STD Version 1.1, Display
Category II 1 Stabilization
Category BRAVO.
RTCM Paper 191–93/SC112–X
Version 1.2 (except the
Azmuth stabilization requirement in paragraph 3.10). 1.
X
X
X

RTCM Paper 71–95/SC112–
STD Version 1.1, Display
Category I 2 Stabilization Category ALPHA.
RTCM Paper 191–93/SC112–X
Version 1.2. 1

X

X

X
X
X

X
(1) Large enough scale .............
(2) Current edition or currently
corrected edition.
(1) U.S. Coast Guard Light List
(2) Notices to Navigation or
Local Notices to Mariners.
(3) River-current Tables ............

(1) Large enough scale .............
(2) Current edition or currently
corrected edition.
(1) U.S. Coast Guard Light List
(2) Local Notices to Mariners ...

(1) Large enough scale.
(2) Currently corrected edition.

(3) Tidal-current Tables ............
(4) Tide Tables ..........................
(5) U.S. Coast Pilot ...................

(3) Tidal-current Tables.
(4) Tide Tables.
(5) U.S. Coast Pilot.

(1) U.S. Coast Guard Light List.
(2) Local Notices to Mariners.

NOTES:
1 Towing vessels with existing radar must meet this requirement by August 2, 1998.
2 Towing vessels with existing radar must meet this requirement by August 2, 1998 but do not need to meet the display and
stabilization requirements until August 2, 2001.
3 A towing vessel may carry either a swing-meter or a magnetic compass.

[CGD 94–020, 61 FR 35073, July 3, 1996, as amended by CGD 97–034, 62 FR 40272, July 28, 1997;
USCG–1999–5832, 64 FR 34715, June 29, 1999; USCG–2001–9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001; USCG–
2010–0351, 75 FR 36287, June 25, 2010; USCG–2011–0257, 76 FR 31838, June 2, 2011; USCG–2015–0433,
80 FR 44282, July 27, 2015; USCG–2016–0498, 82 FR 35088, July 28, 2017; USCG–2018–0874, 84 FR
30881, June 28, 2019]

kking on DSK6VXHR33PROD with CFR

§ 164.74 Towline and terminal gear for
towing astern.
(a) Towline. The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing astern
shall ensure that the strength of each
towline is adequate for its intended
service, considering at least the following factors:
(1) The size and material of each towline must be—
(i) Appropriate for the horsepower or
bollard pull of the vessel;
(ii) Appropriate for the static loads
and dynamic loads expected during the
intended service;
(iii) Appropriate for the sea conditions expected during the intended
service;
(iv) Appropriate for exposure to the
marine environment and to any chemi-

cals used or carried on board the vessel;
(v) Appropriate for the temperatures
of normal stowage and service on board
the vessel;
(vi) Compatible with associated navigational-safety equipment; and
(vii) Appropriate for the likelihood of
mechanical damage.
(2) Each towline as rigged must be—
(i) Free of knots;
(ii) Spliced with a thimble, or have a
poured socket at its end; and
(iii) Free of wire clips except for temporary repair, for which the towline
must have a thimble and either five
wire clips or as many wire clips as the
manufacturer specifies for the nominal
diameter and construction of the towline, whichever is more.
(3) The condition of each towline
must be monitored through the—

674

VerDate Sep<11>2014

15:04 Oct 03, 2023

Jkt 259139

PO 00000

Frm 00684

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\259139.XXX

259139

kking on DSK6VXHR33PROD with CFR

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 164.74

(i) Keeping on board the towing vessel or in company files of a record of
the towline’s initial minimum breaking strength as determined by the manufacturer, by a classification (‘‘class’’)
society authorized in § 157.04 of this
chapter, or by a tensile test that meets
API Specification 9A, Specification for
Wire Rope, Section 3; ASTM D 4268 (incorporated by reference, see § 164.03),
Standard Test Method for Testing
Fiber Ropes; or Cordage Institute CIA
3, Standard Test Methods for Fiber
Rope
Including
Standard
Terminations;
(ii) If the towline is purchased from
another owner, master, or operator of a
vessel with the intent to use it as a
towline or if it is retested for any reason, keeping on board the towing vessel
or in company files of a record of each
retest of the towline’s minimum breaking strength as determined by a class
society authorized in § 157.04 of this
chapter or by a tensile test that meets
API Specification 9A, Section 3; ASTM
D 4268 (incorporated by reference, see
§ 164.03) or Cordage Institute CIA 3,
Standard Test Methods;
(iii) Conducting visual inspections of
the towline in accordance with the
manufacturer’s recommendations, or
at least monthly, and whenever the
serviceability of the towline is in doubt
(the inspections being conducted by the
owner, master, or operator, or by a person on whom the owner, master, or operator confers the responsibility to
take corrective measures appropriate
for the use of the towline);
(iv) Evaluating the serviceability of
the whole towline or any part of the
towline, and removing the whole or
part from service either as recommended by the manufacturer or a
class society authorized in § 157.04 of
this chapter or in accordance with a replacement schedule developed by the
owner, master, or operator that accounts for at least the—
(A) Nautical miles on, or time in
service of, the towline;
(B) Operating conditions experienced
by the towline;
(C) History of loading of the towline;
(D) Surface condition, including corrosion and discoloration, of the towline;

(E) Amount of visible damage to the
towline;
(F) Amount of material deterioration
indicated by measurements of diameter
and, if applicable, measurements of lay
extension of the towline; and
(G) Point at which a tensile test
proves the minimum breaking strength
of the towline inadequate by the standards of paragraph (a)(1) of this section,
if necessary; and
(v) Keeping on board the towing vessel or in company files of a record of
the material condition of the towline
when inspected under paragraphs
(a)(3)(iii) and (iv) of this section. Once
this record lapses for three months or
more, except when a vessel is laid up or
out of service or has not deployed its
towline, the owner, master, or operator
shall retest the towline or remove it
from service.
(b) Terminal gear. The owner, master,
or operator of each vessel towing
astern shall ensure that the gear used
to control, protect, and connect each
towline meets the following criteria:
(1) The material and size of the terminal gear are appropriate for the
strength and anticipated loading of the
towline and for the environment;
(2) Each connection is secured by at
least one nut with at least one cotter
pin or other means of preventing its
failure;
(3) The lead of the towline is appropriate to prevent sharp bends in the
towline from fairlead blocks, chocks,
or tackle;
(4) There is provided a method,
whether mechanical or non-mechanical, that does not endanger operating
personnel but that easily releases the
towline;
(5) The towline is protected from abrasion or chafing by chafing gear, lagging, or other means;
(6) Except on board a vessel towing in
ice on Western Rivers or one using a
towline of synthetic or natural fiber,
there is fitted a winch that evenly
spools and tightly winds the towline;
and
(7) If a winch is fitted, there is attached to the main drum a brake that
has holding power appropriate for the
horsepower or bollard pull of the vessel

675

VerDate Sep<11>2014

15:04 Oct 03, 2023

Jkt 259139

PO 00000

Frm 00685

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\259139.XXX

259139

§ 164.76

33 CFR Ch. I (7–1–23 Edition)

and can be operated without power to
the winch.
[CGD 94–020, 61 FR 35074, July 3, 1996, as
amended by USCG–1999–5151, 64 FR 67176,
Dec. 1, 1999]

§ 164.76 Towline and terminal gear for
towing alongside and pushing
ahead.
The owner, master, or operator of
each vessel towing alongside or pushing ahead shall ensure that the face
wires, spring lines, and push gear
used—
(a) Are appropriate for the vessel’s
horsepower;
(b) Are appropriate for the arrangement of the tow;
(c) Are frequently inspected; and
(d) Remain serviceable.

(6) Knows the speed and direction of
the current, and the set, drift, and
tidal state for the area to be transited;
(7) Proceeds at a safe speed taking
into account the weather, visibility,
density of traffic, draft of tow, possibility of wake damage, speed and direction of the current, and local speedlimits; and
(8) Monitors the voyage plan required
by § 164.80.
(b) The owner, master, or operator of
each vessel towing shall ensure that
the tests and inspections required by
§ 164.80 are conducted and that the results are entered in the log or other
record carried on board.
[CGD 94–020, 61 FR 35075, July 3, 1996, as
amended by USCG–2000–6931, 68 FR 22610,
Apr. 29, 2003; 69 FR 34068, June 18, 2004]

kking on DSK6VXHR33PROD with CFR

[CGD 94–020, 61 FR 35075, July 3, 1996]

§ 164.78 Navigation under way: Towing
vessels.
(a) The owner, master, or operator of
each vessel towing shall ensure that
each person directing and controlling
the movement of the vessel—
(1) Understands the arrangement of
the tow and the effects of maneuvering
on the vessel towing and on the vessel,
barge, or object being towed;
(2) Can fix the position of the vessel
using installed navigational equipment, aids to navigation, geographic
reference-points,
and
hydrographic
contours;
(3) Does not fix the position of the
vessel using buoys alone (Buoys are
aids to navigation placed in approximate positions either to alert mariners
to hazards to navigation or to indicate
the orientation of a channel. They may
not maintain exact charted positions,
because strong or varying currents,
heavy seas, ice, and collisions with vessels can move or sink them or set them
adrift. Although they may corroborate
a position fixed by other means, they
cannot fix a position; however, if no
other aids are available, buoys alone
may establish an estimated position.);
(4) Evaluates the danger of each closing visual or radar contact;
(5) Knows and applies the variation
and deviation, where a magnetic compass is fitted and where charts or maps
have enough detail to enable this type
of correction;

§ 164.80 Tests, inspections, and voyage
planning.
(a) The owner, master, or operator of
each towing vessel of less than 1,600 GT
shall ensure that the following tests
and inspections of gear occur before
the vessel embarks on a voyage of more
than 24 hours or when each new master
or operator assumes command:
(1) Steering-systems. A test of the
steering-gear-control system; a test of
the main steering gear from the alternative power supply, if installed; a
verification of the rudder-angle indicator relative to the actual position of
the rudder; and a visual inspection of
the steering gear and its linkage.
(2) Navigational equipment. A test of
all installed navigational equipment.
(3) Communications. Operation of all
internal vessel control communications and vessel-control alarms, if installed.
(4) Lights. Operation of all navigational lights and all searchlights.
(5) Terminal gear. Visual inspection of
tackle; of connections of bridle and
towing pendant, if applicable; of chafing gear; and of the winch brake, if installed.
(6) Propulsion systems. Visual inspection of the spaces for main propulsion
machinery, of machinery, and of devices for monitoring machinery.
(b) The owner, master, or operator of
each towing vessel of 1,600 GT or more
shall ensure that the following tests of

676

VerDate Sep<11>2014

15:04 Oct 03, 2023

Jkt 259139

PO 00000

Frm 00686

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\259139.XXX

259139