(a) Except as specifically noted, the provisions of this subpart shall apply to all vessels.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) It shall be the duty of the master to see that all watertight doors in subdivision bulkheads that may be opened at sea, and all mechanisms, remote controls, and indicators connected therewith, shall be periodically inspected at least once in each week that the vessel is navigated to be assured that they are in proper operating condition. On vessels in which the voyage exceeds one week in duration, these doors shall be operated before the vessel leaves port. All such doors shall be operated daily.

(b) The date of the test and the condition of the equipment shall be noted in the official logbook.

(a) It shall be the duty of the master to see that all valves, including cross connecting valves where fitted, and other appliances such as port lights, closing mechanism of scuppers, ash chutes, and rubbish chutes, the closing of which is necessary to make a compartment watertight, are operated at least once in every week that the vessel is navigated to be assured that they are in proper operating condition. Any remote controls or indicating mechanisms shall be inspected at this time to test their efficiency. Where such valves are accessible, they shall be inspected at this time, otherwise, they shall be inspected at the first opportunity when they are accessible. On vessels in which the voyage exceeds one week in duration, these appliances shall be operated before the vessel leaves port.

(b) The date of the test and the condition of the equipment shall be noted in the official logbook.

(a) Where fitted, the complete loudspeaker system shall be tested at least once every week. This test shall be made by an officer of the vessel.

(b) The date of the test and the condition of the equipment shall be noted in the official logbook.

Cross Reference:

See subchapter J (Electrical Engineering) of this chapter for details.

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16955, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGD 74-125A, 47 FR 15231, Apr. 8, 1982]

(a) On all vessels making a voyage of more than 48 hours' duration, the entire steering gear, the whistle, and the means of communication between the bridge or pilothouse and the engine room shall be examined and tested by an officer of the vessel within a period of not more than 12 hours prior to departure. On all other vessels similar examinations and tests shall be made at least once every week.

(b) The date of the test and the condition of the equipment shall be noted in the official logbook.

(a) The master of every vessel on an ocean, coastwise, or Great Lakes voyage shall enter the drafts of the vessel, forward and aft, in the official logbook when leaving port.

(b) On vessels subject to the requirements of subchapter E (Load Lines) of this chapter, at the time of departure from port on an ocean, coastwise, or Great Lakes voyage, the master shall insert in the official logbook a statement of the position of the subdivision load line mark, port and starboard, in relation to the surface of the water in which the vessel is then floating.

(1) When the draft of the vessel is limited by a seasonal load line located below the subdivision load line, the position of the applicable seasonal load line shall be entered in relation to the surface of the water in which the vessel is floating.

(2) When an allowance for draft is made for density of the water in which the vessel is floating, this density is to be noted in the official logbook.

(a) After loading and prior to departure and at all other times necessary to assure the safety of the vessel, the master shall determine that the vessel complies with all applicable stability requirements in the vessel's trim and stability book, stability letter, Certificate of Inspection, and Load Line Certificate, as the case may be, and then enter an attestation statement of the verification in the log book. The vessel may not depart until it is in compliance with these requirements.

(b) When determining compliance with applicable stability requirements the vessel's draft, trim, and stability must be determined as necessary and any stability calculations made in support of the determination must be retained on board the vessel for the duration of the voyage.

[CGD 89-037, 57 FR 41822, Sept. 11, 1992]

(a) It shall be the duty of the master and chief engineer to see that the vessel and, in particular, the passenger and crew quarters are in a clean and sanitary condition. The chief engineer shall be responsible only for the sanitary condition of the engineering department.

(b) [Reserved]

It shall be the duty of the chief engineer when assuming charge of the boilers and machinery of a vessel to examine them thoroughly. If any parts thereof are in bad condition, the fact shall immediately be reported to the master, owner or agent, and the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

[CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51205, Sept. 30, 1997]

(a) The master of a vessel fitted with loading doors shall assure that all loading doors are closed watertight and secured during the entire voyage except that—

(1) If a door cannot be opened or closed while the vessel is at a dock, it may be open while the vessel approaches and draws away from the dock, but only as far as necessary to enable the door to be immediately operated.

(2) If needed to operate the vessel, or embark and disembark passengers when the vessel is at anchor in protected waters, loading doors may be open provided that the master determines that the safety of the vessel is not impaired.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “loading doors” include all weathertight ramps, bow visors, and openings used to load personnel, equipment, and stores, located in the collision bulkhead, the side shell, or the boundaries of enclosed superstructures that are continuous with the shell of the vessel.

(c) The master shall enter into the log book the time and door location of every closing of the loading doors.

(d) The master shall enter into the log book any opening of the doors in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section setting forth the time of the opening of the doors and the circumstances warranting this action.

[CGD 89-037, 57 FR 41822, Sept. 11, 1992]

(a) It shall be the responsibility of the master to assure himself before leaving protected waters that all exposed cargo hatches of his vessel are closed and made properly tight.

(b) The following doors, portable plates, ports, and other openings shall be kept closed while the vessel is being navigated, and shall be closed before the vessel commences a voyage:

(1) Watertight doors between cargo spaces prescribed in § 170.275 of this chapter.

(2) Portable plates in watertight bulkheads prescribed in § 171.111(b) of this chapter.

(3) Gangway, cargo, and coaling ports fitted below the margin line that is determined in accordance with § 171.015 of this chapter.

(4) On ocean, coastwise, or Great Lakes vessels of 150 gross tons and over, all opening type port lights in a 'tween deck, if the sill of any port light in that 'tween deck, is below a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point 4 1/2 feet plus 2 1/2 percent of the breadth of the vessel above the water when the vessel departs from port. The Commandant may indicate the limiting mean draft which would allow such port lights to be opened at sea.

(5) Port lights that are not accessible during navigation. Dead covers on such port lights shall also be secured.

(6) Port lights in spaces appropriated alternately to the carriage of cargo and passengers, when cargo is carried. Dead covers on such port lights shall also be secured.

(c) The time of opening and closing of hatches and other openings noted in this section shall be entered in the official logbook. In the event that the master at his discretion does not secure the hatches, a notation of this fact shall be made in the official logbook. If it becomes essential for the safety of the vessel to open any of the fittings noted in this section while at sea, the circumstances and the time of opening and closing shall be entered in the official logbook.

(d) The time of opening, closing, and securing, at sea, of watertight doors fitted between bunkers for the purpose of trimming coal, shall be entered in the official logbook.

[CGspan 65-50, 30 span 16955, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGD 79-023, 48 span 51007, Nov. 4, 1983]

(a) It shall be the duty of the master to see that the emergency lighting and power systems are operated and inspected at least once in each week that the vessel is navigated to be assured that the system is in proper operating condition.

(b) Internal combustion engine driven emergency generators shall be operated under load for at least 2 hours, at least once in each month that the vessel is navigated.

(c) Storage batteries for emergency lighting and power systems shall be tested at least once each 6-month period that the vessel is navigated to demonstrate the ability of the storage battery to supply the emergency loads for the period of time specified in table 112.05-5(a) of this chapter.

(d) The date of the tests and the condition and performance of the apparatus shall be noted in the official logbook.

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16959, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGFR 70-143, 35 FR 19906, Dec. 30, 1970]

Onboard training, musters, and drills must be in accordance with subchapter W (Lifesaving Appliances and Arrangements) of this chapter.

[CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25288, May 20, 1996]

(a) It shall be the duty of the master to see that the smoke inlets in cargo holds are examined at least once in each 3 months by the ship's personnel to determine if the inlets are obstructed by corrosion, paint, dust, or other extraneous matter. Smoke tests shall be made in all holds and the system found or made operable. The date of the test and condition of the system shall be entered in the log.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) It shall be the duty of the chief engineer to cause an entry in the log be made of each supply of fuel oil received on board, stating the quantity received, the name of the vendor, the name of the oil producer, and the flashpoint (Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Method, ASTM D 93 (incorporated by reference, see § 78.01-2)) for which it is certified by the producer.

(b) It shall be the further duty of the chief engineer to cause to be drawn and sealed and suitably labeled at the time the supply is received on board, a half-pint sample of each lot of fuel oil. These samples shall be preserved until the particular supply of oil is exhausted.

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16955, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18899, Dec. 18, 1968; USCG-2000-7790, 65 FR 58461, Sept. 29, 2000]

(a) It shall be the duty of the owner, master, or person in charge to see that the vessel's firefighting equipment is at all times ready for use and that all such equipment required by the regulations in this subchapter is provided, maintained, and replaced as indicated.

(b) It shall be the duty of the owner, master, or person in charge to require and have performed at least once in every twelve months the tests and inspections of all hand portable fire extinguishers, semiportable fire extinguishing systems, and fixed fire extinguishing systems on board, as described in tables 71.25-20(a) (1) and 71.25-20(a) (2) in § 71.25-20 of this subchapter. The owner, master, or person in charge shall keep records of such tests and inspections showing the dates when performed, the number and/or other identification of each unit tested and inspected, and the name(s) of the person(s) and/or company conducting the tests and inspections. Such records shall be made available to the inspector upon request and shall be kept for the period of validity of the vessel's current certificate of inspection. Where practicable these records should be kept in or with the vessel's log book. The conduct of these tests and inspections does not relieve the owner, master, or person in charge of his responsibility to maintain this firefighting equipment in proper condition at all times.