33 CFR 149.317: Lifejacket stowage and marking
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers how and where lifejackets must be stowed. The operator must ensure lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces. Containers and the spaces housing them must not be capable of being locked, and each container or location must be marked.
What it says
The operator must ensure that lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.
33 CFR 149.317(a)“The operator must ensure that lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.”
Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.
33 CFR 149.317(b)“Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.”
The operator must mark each lifejacket container or lifejacket stowage location with the word "LIFEJACKETS" in block letters, and with the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container or at the location.
33 CFR 149.317(c)“The operator must mark each lifejacket container or lifejacket stowage location with the word “LIFEJACKETS” in block letters, and the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container or at the location.”
Common questions
Where must lifejackets be stowed?
The operator must ensure lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.
“The operator must ensure that lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.”
Can lifejacket lockers be locked?
No. Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.
“Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.”
How must lifejacket containers be marked?
The operator must mark each container or stowage location with the word "LIFEJACKETS" in block letters. The marking must also give the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed there.
“The operator must mark each lifejacket container or lifejacket stowage location with the word “LIFEJACKETS” in block letters, and the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container or at the location.”
The text of 33 CFR 149.317
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
How and where must lifejackets be stowed?
(a) The operator must ensure that lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.
(b) Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.
(c) The operator must mark each lifejacket container or lifejacket stowage location with the word “LIFEJACKETS” in block letters, and the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container or at the location.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.