(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section the owner or builder shall, before the start of construction or before the initial inspection of the vessel, submit to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection of the inspection zone where the vessel is to be inspected, at least one copy of each of the following plans:

(1) Midship section.

(2) Outboard profile.

(3) Inboard profile.

(4) Arrangement of decks.

(5) Lifesaving equipment installation and arrangement.

(6) Machinery installation.

(7) Electrical installation.

(8) Fire control plan.

(9) Fuel tanks.

(10) Piping systems.

(11) Hull penetrations and shell connections.

(12) Lines and offsets, curves of form, and capacities of the tanks including size and location on vessel.

(13) Masts, including integration into the ship's structure.

(14) Rigging plan showing sail areas and centers of effort as well as the arrangement, dimensions, and connections of the standing rigging.

(b) For vessels less than 65 feet in length, the owner may submit specifications, sketches, photographs, line drawings or written descriptions in lieu of any of the required drawings provided the required information is adequately detailed and acceptable to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

(c) The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, may waive submission of some or all of the structural plans called for by paragraph (a) of this section for an existing vessel with a history of at least 5 years of safe operation, or if the design and construction of the vessel are essentially similar to a vessel which has a proven record of safe operation in similar service upon similar waters.

Plans are not required for any vessel which is a sister ship to a vessel, provided that—

(a) The approved plans for the original vessels are already on file at any Marine Inspection Office;

(b) The owner of the plans authorizes their use for the new construction;

(c) The regulations have not changed since the original plan approval; and

(d) There are no major modifications to any of the systems used.

(a) Compliance with the standards established by a recognized classification society will, in general, be considered satisfactory evidence of the structural adequacy of a vessel.

(b) Masts, posts and other supporting structures are to have adequate strength to withstand the highest loadings imposed by the sail systems during all normal and emergency conditions. Particular attention must be given to the integration of the masts and rigging into the hull structure. The hull structure must be adequately reinforced and stiffened locally to ensure sufficient strength and resistance to plate buckling.

(c) The design, materials, and construction of masts, yards, booms, bowsprits, and standing rigging must be suitable for the intended service. Detailed calculations with respect to the strength of the sail system may be required. Approval by a recognized classification society may be considered satisfactory evidence of the adequacy of the sail system.

(d) When scantlings differ from established standards and it can be demonstrated that a craft approximating the same size, power and displacement has been built to the proposed scantlings and has been in satisfactory service, insofar as structural adequacy is concerned, for a period of a least 5 years, the proposed scantling may be approved. A detailed structural analysis may be required.

(e) Special consideration will be given to the structural requirements of vessels not contemplated by the standards of a recognized classification society and to the use of materials not specially included in these standards.

(a) The general construction of the vessel must be designed to minimize fire hazards. Each vessel which carries more than 100 persons or has overnight accommodations for more than 49 persons must meet the requirements of subpart 72.05 of this chapter. Each vessel which is certificated to carry 100 persons or less or had overnight accommodations for less than 50 persons must meet the requirements of § 169.323.

(b) A fire detector, listed by a recognized testing laboratory, must be installed in each unmanned engine space.

(c) Smoke detectors, listed by a recognized testing laboratory, must be installed in each berthing compartment, sail locker, and public area.

(d) Internal combustion engine exhausts, boiler and galley uptakes, and similar sources of ignition must be kept clear of and suitably insulated from any woodwork or other combustible matter.

(e) Lamp, paint, oil lockers and similar compartments must be constructed of metal or wholly lined with metal.

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (f) of this section, there must be at least two means of escape from all areas generally accessible to persons onboard. At least one means of escape must be independent of watertight doors and lead directly to the open deck. Windows and windshields of sufficient size and proper accessibility may be used as one avenue of escape.

(b) The two means of escape must be as widely separated as practical to minimize the possibility of one incident blocking both escapes.

(c) Except as provided by paragraph (d) of this section, a vertical ladder and deck scuttle may not be designated as one of the means of escape.

(d) A vertical ladder and deck scuttle may be used as a second means of escape if—

(1) The primary means of escape is an enclosed stairtower or stairway;

(2) The installation of two stairways is impracticable;

(3) The scuttle is located where it cannot be interfered with; and

(4) The scuttle is fitted with a quick-acting release and a hold-back to hold the scuttle in an open position.

(e) The required means of escape must not have locking devices.

(f) Where the length of the compartment is less than 12 feet, one vertical means of escape is acceptable provided that—

(1) There is no source of fire in the space, such as a galley stove, heater, etc., and the vertical escape is remote from the engine or fuel tank space, and

(2) The arrangement is such that the installation of two means of escape does not materially improve the safety of the vessel or those on board.

(g) Dead end corridors or the equivalent, more than 40 feet in length are prohibited.

(h) Each means of escape must be of adequate size to accommodate rapid evacuation.

(i) Each vertical ladder must have rungs that are:

(1) At least 16 inches in length;

(2) Not more than 12 inches apart, uniform for the length of the ladder;

(3) At least 3 inches from the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder; and

(4) Except when unavoidable obstructions are encountered, there must be at least 4 1/2 inches clearance above each rung.

(a) All enclosed spaces within the vessel must be properly ventilated in a manner suitable for the purpose of the space.

(b) A means must be provided to close off all vents and ventilators.

(c) Living spaces must be ventilated by a mechanical system unless it can be shown that a natural system will provide adequate ventilation in all ordinary weather conditions. Provided that paragraph (a) of this section is satisfied, a vessel having only a natural ventilation system must satisfy the following: V/A≥1.4 where V is the total area of the vents in square inches and A is the product in square feet of the vessel's design waterline length times its maximum beam.

(a) Quarters must have sufficient fresh air, light and heat. Quarters must not be located forward of the collision bulkhead or farther forward in the vessel than a vertical plane located at 5 percent of the vessel's loadline length abaft the forward side of the stem. The space must not be located totally below the deepest load waterline.

(b) Bulkheads separating accommodations from machinery spaces, paint lockers, storerooms, washrooms, and toilet facilities are to be odorproof.

(c) All quarters are to be properly drained, odorproof and protected from heat and noise.

(d) Each person on board must have a separate berth which is of sufficient size and generally clear of all pipes, ventilation ducts and other installations.

(e) Each bunk must be constructed of wood, fiberglass or metal. If fitted with a mattress, the mattress must be covered with material which has been treated to give it fire resistant properties and which will provide the mattress with a reasonably smooth surface. There must be a minimum vertical distance between bunks of 24 inches.

(f) A means of access must be provided for each berthing arrangement where the upper berth is more than 60 inches above the deck.

(g) The construction and arrangement must allow free and unobstructed access to each berth. Each berth must be immediately adjacent to an aisle leading to a means of escape from the living area.

(h) A properly arranged hammock may be used as a berth.

(a) Sailing school vessels must have one toilet and one washbasin for every 20 persons. Each toilet and washbasin must have adequate plumbing.

(b) Each washroom and toilet room must properly drain and the scupper to the washroom must be of sufficient size and situated in the lowest part of the space.

(c) Each sailing school vessel must meet the applicable requirements of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, part 159.

Each sailing school vessel certificated to carry 100 persons or less or having overnight accommodations for less than 50 persons must meet the following requirements:

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, all free-standing furniture must be constructed of noncombustible material. Upholstery and padding used in furniture must be of fire resistant materials.

(b) Existing solid wooden furniture may be retained on existing vessels.

(c) Draperies must be fabricated of fire resistant fabrics.

(d) Rugs and carpets must be of wool or other material having equivalent fire resistant qualities.

(e) Trash receptacles must be constructed of non-combustible materials with solid sides and bottoms and have solid noncombustible covers.

(a) All rails or lifelines must be at least 30 inches high and permanently supported by stanchions at intervals of not more than 7 feet. Stanchions must be through bolted or welded to the deck.

(b) Rails or lifelines must consist of evenly spaced courses. The spacing between courses must not be greater than 12 inches. The opening below the lowest course must not be more than 9 inches. Lower rail courses are not required where all or part of the space below the upper rail is fitted with a bulwark, chain link fencing, wire mesh, or an equivalent.

(c) Small vessels of the open type and vessels of unusual construction must have rails or equivalent protection as considered necessary by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

Suitable storm rails or hand grabs must be installed where necessary in all passageways, at deckhouse sides, and at ladders and hatches where persons might have normal access.

Each exposed hazard, such as gears or machinery, must be properly protected with covers, guards, or rails.