33 CFR 164.13: Navigation underway requirements for tankers

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets navigation rules for tankers. A tanker must keep an engineering watch and have at least two deck officers on watch on the bridge. It also limits when a tanker may use a heading or track control system.

Applies toIt applies to each tanker, meaning a self-propelled tank vessel built or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk and inspected and certificated as a tanker.

What it says

  1. A tanker is a self-propelled tank vessel, including integrated tug barge combinations, constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo spaces and inspected and certificated as a tanker.

    33 CFR 164.13(a)““tanker” means a self-propelled tank vessel, including integrated tug barge combinations, constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo spaces and inspected and certificated as a tanker.”

  2. Each tanker must have an engineering watch that can monitor the propulsion system, communicate with the bridge, and implement manual control measures immediately when necessary.

    33 CFR 164.13(b)“Each tanker must have an engineering watch capable of monitoring the propulsion system, communicating with the bridge, and implementing manual control measures immediately when necessary.”

  3. The engineering watch must be physically present in the machinery spaces or the main control space. It must consist of at least an engineer with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential.

    33 CFR 164.13(b)“The watch must be physically present in the machinery spaces or in the main control space and must consist of at least an engineer with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential.”

  4. Each tanker must navigate with at least two deck officers with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential on watch on the bridge, and one of them may be a pilot.

    33 CFR 164.13(c)“Each tanker must navigate with at least two deck officers with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential on watch on the bridge, one of whom may be a pilot.”

  5. In waters where a pilot is required, the second officer must hold an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential, be assigned to the vessel as master, mate, or officer in charge of a navigational watch, and be separate and distinct from the pilot.

    33 CFR 164.13(c)“In waters where a pilot is required, the second officer, must be an individual holding an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential and assigned to the vessel as master, mate, or officer in charge of a navigational watch, who is separate and distinct from the pilot.”

  6. A tanker may navigate using a heading or track control system only if it meets the conditions in paragraph (d). Paragraph (d) has preemptive effect over State or local regulation within the same field.

    33 CFR 164.13(d)“This paragraph (d) has preemptive effect over State or local regulation within the same field. A tanker may navigate using a heading or track control system only if:”

  7. A person competent to steer the vessel must be present at all times to assume manual control of the steering station, including in the conditions listed in 46 CFR 35.20-45(a) through (c).

    33 CFR 164.13(d)(2)“There is a person, competent to steer the vessel, present to assume manual control of the steering station at all times including, but not limited to, the conditions listed in 46 CFR 35.20-45(a) through (c); and”

  8. The heading or track control system must meet the specifications of either IEC 62065 (2002-03) or IEC 62065 (2014-02), which are incorporated by reference (see § 164.03).

    33 CFR 164.13(d)(3)“The system meets the heading or track control specifications of either IEC 62065 (2002-03) or IEC 62065 (2014-02) (incorporated by reference, see § 164.03).”

Common questions

How many deck officers must a tanker have on the bridge?

A tanker must have at least two deck officers with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential on watch on the bridge. One of them may be a pilot.

“Each tanker must navigate with at least two deck officers with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential on watch on the bridge, one of whom may be a pilot.”

Where must a tanker's engineering watch be located?

The watch must be physically present in the machinery spaces or in the main control space. It must include at least an engineer with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential.

“The watch must be physically present in the machinery spaces or in the main control space and must consist of at least an engineer with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential.”

Can a tanker use a heading or track control system?

A tanker may use one only if the conditions in paragraph (d) are met. These include a person competent to steer being present to take manual control at all times.

“A tanker may navigate using a heading or track control system only if:”

The text of 33 CFR 164.13

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Navigation underway: tankers

(a) As used in this section, “tanker” means a self-propelled tank vessel, including integrated tug barge combinations, constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo spaces and inspected and certificated as a tanker.

(b) Each tanker must have an engineering watch capable of monitoring the propulsion system, communicating with the bridge, and implementing manual control measures immediately when necessary. The watch must be physically present in the machinery spaces or in the main control space and must consist of at least an engineer with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential.

(c) Each tanker must navigate with at least two deck officers with an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential on watch on the bridge, one of whom may be a pilot. In waters where a pilot is required, the second officer, must be an individual holding an appropriately endorsed license or merchant mariner credential and assigned to the vessel as master, mate, or officer in charge of a navigational watch, who is separate and distinct from the pilot.

(d) This paragraph (d) has preemptive effect over State or local regulation within the same field. A tanker may navigate using a heading or track control system only if:

(1) The tanker is at least one-half nautical mile (1,012 yards) beyond the territorial sea baseline, as defined in 33 CFR 2.20;

(i) Not within waters specified in 33 CFR part 110 (anchorages), or;

(ii) Not within waters specified as precautionary areas in 33 CFR part 167, and;

(2) There is a person, competent to steer the vessel, present to assume manual control of the steering station at all times including, but not limited to, the conditions listed in 46 CFR 35.20-45(a) through (c); and

(3) The system meets the heading or track control specifications of either IEC 62065 (2002-03) or IEC 62065 (2014-02) (incorporated by reference, see § 164.03).

Sections it refers to

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.