(a) This subpart applies to a new towing vessel, as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter, unless it is an excepted vessel.

(b) Machinery or electrical systems of a novel design, unusual form, or special material must meet section § 143.210.

(c) Unless otherwise noted in §§ 143.515 and 143.520, new towing vessels must also meet the requirements of subpart B of this part.

Verification of compliance with the machinery and electrical design standards in this subpart is obtained by following the provisions in §§ 144.135 through 144.145 of this subchapter.

(a) Except as noted in paragraph (c) of this section, a towing vessel classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), in accordance with the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length, or the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels for Service on Rivers and Intracoastal Waterways (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), as appropriate for the intended service and routes, complies with this subpart.

(b) Except as noted in paragraph (c) of this section, a towing vessel built and equipped to conform to the ABS rules specified in paragraph (a) of this section and appropriate for the intended service and routes, but not currently classed, may be deemed by the OCMI or a TPO to be in compliance with this subpart if it can be shown that the vessel continues to conform to the ABS rules.

(c) A vessel that complies with this subpart as described in paragraph (a) or (b) must also meet the requirements described in §§ 143.585 through 143.595 or the requirements of § 143.600 if it moves tank barges carrying oil or hazardous material in bulk.

(d) Vessels meeting either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section are considered as being in compliance with subpart B of this part except for the readiness and testing requirements of § 143.245, and pilothouse alerter requirements of § 143.450.

(e) Towing vessels built to other recognized classification society rules, appropriate for the intended route and service, may be considered compliant with provisions in this subpart upon approval by the Coast Guard.

(a) Except as noted in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a new towing vessel 65 feet (19.8 meters) or less in length built to conform with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards listed in this paragraph (a) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), complies with this subpart:

(1) E-11 (2003)—AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats;

(2) H-2 (2002)—Ventilation of Boats Using Gasoline;

(2) H-22 (2005)—Electric Bilge Pump Systems;

(3) H-24 (2007)—Gasoline Fuel Systems;

(4) H-25 (2003)—Portable Gasoline Fuel Systems;

(5) H-32 (2004)—Ventilation of Boats Using Diesel Fuel;

(6) H-33 (2005)—Diesel Fuel Systems;

(7) P-1 (2002)—Installation of Exhaust Systems for Propulsion and Auxiliary Engines; and

(8) P-4 (2004)—Marine Inboard Engines and Transmissions.

(b) New towing vessels, 65 feet or less in length, built to the ABYC standards specified in this section are considered compliant with subpart B of this part except for the readiness and testing requirements of § 143.245.

(c) If the vessel moves tank barges carrying oil or hazardous material in bulk, it must meet either the requirements described in §§ 143.585 through 143.595 or the requirements described in § 143.600.

(a) Pumps, pipes, valves, and fittings in essential systems on vessels must meet ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 4.

(b) Pumps, pipes, valves, and fittings in essential systems on towing vessels operating exclusively on rivers or intracoastal waterways may meet ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels for Service on Rivers and Intracoastal Waterways (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 3.

(a) In lieu of meeting the requirements of § 143.300, pressure vessels installed on new towing vessels must meet the requirements of this section.

(b) Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and more than 15 psi maximum allowable working pressure must meet ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 1, Section 1.

(a) Steering systems must meet ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 3, Section 3.

(b) Steering systems on new towing vessels operating exclusively on rivers or intracoastal waterways may meet ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels for Service on Rivers and Intracoastal Waterways (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 2, Section 3.

(a) General requirements. (1) There must be a source of electrical power sufficient for:

(i) All essential systems as defined by § 136.110 of this subchapter;

(ii) Minimum conditions of habitability; and

(iii) Other installed or portable systems and equipment.

(2) Generators and motors must be suitably rated for the environment where they operate, marked with their respective ratings, and suitably protected against overcurrent.

(3) A towing vessel, other than an excepted vessel, must have a backup or a second power source that has adequate capacity to supply power to essential alarms, lighting, radios, navigation equipment, and any other essential system identified by the cognizant OCMI or a TPO.

(b) Specific requirements. (1) The owner or managing operator must complete a load analysis that shows that the electrical power source is sufficient to power the sum of connected loads described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section utilizing an appropriate load factor for each load. A record of the analysis must be retained by the owner or managing operator.

(2) Installed generators and motors must have a data plate listing rated kilowatts and power factor (or current), voltage, and rated ambient temperature.

(3) Generators must be provided with overcurrent protection no greater than 115 percent of their rated current and utilize a switchboard or distribution panel.

(4) Motors must be provided with overcurrent protection that meets Parts I through VII, Article 430 of NFPA's National Electrical Code (NEC) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter). Steering motor circuits must be protected as per Part 4 Chapter 6 Section 2, Regulation 11 (except 11.7) ofABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter).

(5) Generators and motors installed in machinery spaces must be certified to operate in an ambient temperature of 50 °C or be derated, or it can be shown that 40 °C ambient temperature will not be exceeded in these spaces.

(6) Each generator and motor, except a submersible-pump motor, must be in an accessible space which is adequately ventilated and as dry as practicable, and must be mounted above the bilges.

(7) A generator driven by a main propulsion unit (such as a shaft generator) may be considered one of the power sources required by paragraph (a) of this section.

(8) Other than excepted vessels, each towing vessel must be arranged so that the following essential loads can be energized from two independent sources of electricity:

(i) High bilge level alarm required by § 143.230;

(ii) Emergency egress lighting, unless the requirements of § 143.410(b)(1) or (2) are met;

(iii) Navigation lights;

(iv) Pilothouse lighting;

(v) Engine room lighting;

(vi) Any installed radios and navigation equipment as required by §§ 140.715 and 140.725;

(vii) All distress alerting communications equipment listed in §§ 140.715 and 140.725;

(viii) Any installed fire detection system; and

(ix) Any essential system identified by the cognizant OCMI or TPO, if applicable.

(9) If a battery is used as the second source of electricity required by paragraph (b)(8) of this section, it must be capable of supplying the loads for at least three hours. There must be a means to monitor the condition of the battery backup power source.

(a) Each distribution panel or switchboard on a towing vessel must be:

(1) In a location that is accessible, as dry as practicable, adequately ventilated, and protected from falling debris and dripping or splashing water; and

(2) Totally enclosed and of the dead-front type.

(b) Each switchboard accessible from the rear must be constructed to prevent a person's accidental contact with energized parts.

(c) Nonconductive mats or grating must be provided on the deck in front of each switchboard and, if it is accessible from the rear, on the deck behind the switchboard.

(d) Each un-insulated current-carrying part must be mounted on noncombustible, nonabsorbent, and high-dielectric insulating material.

(e) Equipment mounted on a door of an enclosure must be constructed or shielded so that a person will not come into accidental contact with energized parts.

(a) General requirement. Power and lighting circuits on towing vessels must be protected by suitable overcurrent protection.

(b) Specific requirements. (1) Cable and wiring used in power and lighting circuits must have overcurrent protection that opens the circuit at the standard setting closest to 80 percent of the manufacturer's listed ampacity. Overcurrent protection setting exceptions allowed by NFPA's National Electrical Code (NEC), Article 240 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) may be employed.

(2) If the manufacturer's listed ampacity is not known, tables referenced in Article 310.15(B) of the NEC (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) must be used, assuming a temperature rating of 75 °C and an assumed temperature of 50 °C for machinery spaces and 40 °C for other spaces.

(3) Overcurrent protection devices must be installed in a manner that will not open the path to ground in a circuit; only ungrounded conductors must be protected. Overcurrent protection must be coordinated such that an overcurrent situation is cleared by the circuit breaker or fuse nearest to the fault.

(4) Each transformer must have protection against overcurrent that meets Article 450 of the NEC (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter).

(5) On a towing vessel, other than an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter, essential systems and non-essential systems must not be on the same circuit or share the same overcurrent protective device.

(a) An ungrounded distribution system must be provided with a ground detection system located at the main switchboard or distribution panel that provides continuous indication of circuit status to ground, with a provision to temporarily remove the indicating device from the reference ground.

(b) A dual voltage or grounded electrical distribution system must have the neutral suitably grounded. There must be only one connection to ground, regardless of the number of power sources. This connection must be at the main switchboard or distribution panel.

(c) On a metallic towing vessel, a grounded distribution system must be grounded to the hull. This grounded system must be connected to a common, non-aluminum ground plate. The ground plate must have only one connection to the main switchboard or distribution panel, and the connection must be readily accessible for examination.

(d) On a nonmetallic towing vessel, all electrical equipment must be grounded to a common ground. Multiple ground plates bonded together are acceptable.

(e) Each grounding conductor of a cable must be identified by one of the following means:

(1) Green braid or green insulation; or

(2) Stripping the insulation from the entire exposed length of the grounding conductor.

(f) A towing vessel's hull may not carry current as a conductor, except for an impressed-current cathodic-protection system or a battery system used to start an engine.

(g) Cable armor may not be used to ground electrical equipment or systems.

(h) Each receptacle outlet and attachment plug for a portable lamp, tool, or similar apparatus operating at 100 or more volts must have a grounding pole and a grounding conductor in the portable cord.

(i) In a grounded distribution system, only grounded, three-prong appliances may be used. This does not apply to double-insulated appliances or tools and appliances of 50 volts or less.

(a) Each cable and wire on a towing vessel must be installed to meet the following requirements:

(1) Each conductor must have sufficient current-carrying capacity for the circuit in which it is used.

(2) Cable hangers for overhead and vertical cable runs must be installed with metal supports and retention devices at least every 48 inches.

(3) Each wire and cable run must be installed in a manner to prevent contact with personnel, mechanical hazards, and leaking fluids. Wire and cable runs must not be installed in bilges, across a normal walking path, or less than 24 inches from the path of movable machinery (e.g., cranes, elevators, forktrucks, etc., where the machinery location can change) unless adequately protected.

(4) Connections and terminations must be suitable for the installed conductors, and must retain the original electrical, mechanical, flame-retarding, and where necessary, fire-resisting properties of the conductor. If twist-on types of connectors are used, the connections must be made within an enclosure and the insulated cap of the connector must be secured to prevent loosening due to vibration. Twist-on type of connectors may not be used for making joints in cables, facilitating a conductor splice, or extending the length of a circuit.

(5) Each cable and wire must be installed so as to avoid or reduce interference with radio reception and compass indication.

(6) Each cable and wire must be protected from the weather.

(7) Each cable and wire must be supported in order to avoid chafing or other damage.

(8) Each cable and wire must be protected by metal coverings or other suitable means, if in areas subject to mechanical abuse.

(9) Each cable and wire must be suitable for low temperature and high humidity, if installed in refrigerated compartments.

(10) Each cable and wire must be located outside a tank, unless it supplies power to equipment in the tank.

(11) If wire is installed in a tank, it must have sheathing or wire insulation compatible with the fluid in a tank.

(b) Extension cords must not be used as a permanent connection to a source of electrical power.

(c) Multi-outlet adapters (power strips) may not be connected to other adapters (“daisy-chained”), or otherwise used in a manner that could overload the capacity of a receptacle.

In lieu of meeting the requirements of §§ 143.555 through 143.575, a vessel may meet the following:

(a) ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 6; or

(b) ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels for Service on Rivers and Intracoastal Waterways (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), Part 4, Chapter 5, if they operate exclusively on rivers or intracoastal waterways.

(a) There must be an alternate means to control the propulsion and steering system which must:

(1) Be independent of the primary control required by § 143.225;

(2) Be located at or near the propulsion and steering equipment; and

(3) Be readily accessible and suitable for prolonged operation.

(b) There must be a means to communicate between each operating station and the alternate propulsion and steering controls.

(c) There must be a means to stop each propulsion engine and steering motor from each operating station.

(d) The means to monitor the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and if applicable, direction (ahead or astern) of thrust must be independent of the controls required by § 143.225.

(e) The propulsion control system required by § 143.225 must be designed so that, in the event of a single failure of any component of the system, propeller speed and direction of thrust are maintained or reduced to zero.

(f) On a towing vessel with an integrated steering and propulsion system, such as a Z-drive, the control system required by § 143.225 must be designed so that, in the event of a single failure of any component of the system, propeller speed and direction of thrust are maintained or the propeller speed is reduced to zero.

(g) An audible and visual alarm must actuate at each operating station when:

(1) The propulsion control system fails;

(2) A non-follow up steering control system fails, if installed; and

(3) The ordered rudder angle does not match the actual rudder position on a follow-up steering control system, if installed. This alarm must have an appropriate delay and error tolerance to eliminate nuisance alarms.

(h) Alarms must be separate and independent of the control system required by § 143.225.

(i) A means of communication must be provided between each operating station and any crewmember(s) required to respond to alarms.

(j) The two sources of electricity required by § 143.555(a)(3) and (b)(8) must be capable of powering electrical loads needed to maintain propulsion, steering, and related controls for not less than 3 hours.

(k) The second source of supply required by § 143.555(a)(3) must automatically start to help restore or maintain power to propulsion, steering, and related controls when the main power source fails.

(l) Propulsion, steering, or related controls that are directly reliant on stored energy, such as compressed air, battery power, or hydraulic pressure, must have two independent stored energy systems, such as compressed air cylinders, battery banks, or hydraulic cylinders, that are capable of maintaining the vessel's propulsion, steering, and related controls.

(m) After a power failure, electrical motors used to maintain propulsion and steering must automatically restart when power is restored, unless remote control starting is provided at the operating station.

(a) A towing vessel must be provided with at least two independent propulsors unless the requirements of § 143.595 are met.

(b) There must be independent controls for each propulsor at each operating station.

(c) In the event of a failure of a single propulsor, the remaining propulsor(s) must have sufficient power to maneuver the vessel to a safe location.

(a) A towing vessel must have independent, duplicate vital auxiliaries. For the purpose of this section, vital auxiliaries are the equipment necessary to operate the propulsion engine, and include fuel pumps, lubricating oil pumps, and cooling water pumps. In the event of a failure or malfunction of any single vital auxiliary, the propulsion engine must continue to provide propulsion adequate to maintain control of the tow.

(b) In the event of a failure, the corresponding independent duplicate vital auxiliary, described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be fully capable of assuming the operation of the failed unit.

In lieu of meeting §§ 143.585 through 143.595, a towing vessel may comply with Sections 7-5 (class ABCU) and 3-5 (class R2) of Part 4 of the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels Under 90 Meters (295 Feet) in Length (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter), except that a vessel that operates exclusively on rivers or intracoastal waterways does not need to comply with 4-7-4/3.9 and the automatic day tank fill pump requirement of 4-7-4/25.3.

(a) The owner or managing operator of each towing vessel must devise test procedures that demonstrate compliance with the design and engineering requirements prescribed in this subpart.

(b) The tests required in paragraph (a) of this section must be satisfactorily conducted and witnessed by the cognizant OCMI or a TPO. A record of the tests must be retained by the owner or managing operator and be available upon request of the cognizant OCMI or TPO.