33 CFR 164.25: Pre-departure equipment tests and steering drills
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires certain vessel equipment to be tested before a vessel enters or gets underway on the navigable waters of the United States. Tests must be done no more than 12 hours beforehand, with special rules for the Great Lakes. An emergency steering drill must also be conducted and logged.
Applies toVessels entering or getting underway on the navigable waters of the United States, with special provisions for vessels on the Great Lakes and those entering from the St. Lawrence Seaway.
What it says
Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), no person may cause a vessel to enter or get underway on the navigable waters of the United States unless the listed equipment was tested no more than 12 hours before.
33 CFR 164.25(a)“no person may cause a vessel to enter into or get underway on the navigable waters of the United States unless no more than 12 hours before entering or getting underway, the following equipment has been tested:”
The test of primary and secondary steering gear includes a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage, and, where applicable, operation of the listed items.
33 CFR 164.25(a)(1)“Primary and secondary steering gear. The test procedure includes a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage, and, where applicable, the operation of the following:”
Main propulsion machinery must be tested ahead and astern.
33 CFR 164.25(a)(5)“Main propulsion machinery, ahead and astern.”
Vessels navigating on the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters that have completed the tests are considered to remain in compliance until arriving at the next port of call on the Great Lakes.
33 CFR 164.25(b)“Vessels navigating on the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters, having once completed the test requirements of this subpart, are considered to remain in compliance until arriving at the next port of call on the Great Lakes.”
Vessels entering the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway are considered compliant if the required tests are conducted preparatory to or during the Seaway passage, or within one hour of passing Wolfe Island.
33 CFR 164.25(c)“if the required tests are conducted preparatory to or during the passage of the St. Lawrence Seaway or within one hour of passing Wolfe Island.”
No vessel may enter or operate on the navigable waters of the United States unless an emergency steering drill was conducted within 48 hours before entry and logged in the vessel logbook, unless the drill is conducted and logged at least once every three months.
33 CFR 164.25(d)“unless the emergency steering drill described below has been conducted within 48 hours prior to entry and logged in the vessel logbook, unless the drill is conducted and logged on a regular basis at least once every three months.”
Common questions
How recently must equipment be tested before getting underway?
The listed equipment must be tested no more than 12 hours before the vessel enters or gets underway, except as paragraphs (b) and (c) provide.
“unless no more than 12 hours before entering or getting underway, the following equipment has been tested:”
What does the emergency steering drill have to include?
At a minimum, the drill must include operating the main steering gear from within the steering gear compartment. It must also include operating the communications between the bridge and the steering compartment, and the alternative power supply if the vessel has one.
“Operation of the main steering gear from within the steering gear compartment.”
How do the test rules work for vessels on the Great Lakes?
Vessels on the Great Lakes that have completed the tests are considered to remain in compliance until arriving at the next port of call on the Great Lakes.
“are considered to remain in compliance until arriving at the next port of call on the Great Lakes.”
The text of 33 CFR 164.25
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Tests before entering or getting underway
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section no person may cause a vessel to enter into or get underway on the navigable waters of the United States unless no more than 12 hours before entering or getting underway, the following equipment has been tested:
(1) Primary and secondary steering gear. The test procedure includes a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage, and, where applicable, the operation of the following:
(i) Each remote steering gear control system.
(ii) Each steering position located on the navigating bridge.
(iii) The main steering gear from the alternative power supply, if installed.
(iv) Each rudder angle indicator in relation to the actual position of the rudder.
(v) Each remote steering gear control system power failure alarm.
(vi) Each remote steering gear power unit failure alarm.
(vii) The full movement of the rudder to the required capabilities of the steering gear.
(2) All internal vessel control communications and vessel control alarms.
(3) Standby or emergency generator, for as long as necessary to show proper functioning, including steady state temperature and pressure readings.
(4) Storage batteries for emergency lighting and power systems in vessel control and propulsion machinery spaces.
(5) Main propulsion machinery, ahead and astern.
(b) Vessels navigating on the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters, having once completed the test requirements of this subpart, are considered to remain in compliance until arriving at the next port of call on the Great Lakes.
(c) Vessels entering the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway are considered to be in compliance with this sub-part if the required tests are conducted preparatory to or during the passage of the St. Lawrence Seaway or within one hour of passing Wolfe Island.
(d) No vessel may enter, or be operated on the navigable waters of the United States unless the emergency steering drill described below has been conducted within 48 hours prior to entry and logged in the vessel logbook, unless the drill is conducted and logged on a regular basis at least once every three months. This drill must include at a minimum the following:
(1) Operation of the main steering gear from within the steering gear compartment.
(2) Operation of the means of communications between the navigating bridge and the steering compartment.
(3) Operation of the alternative power supply for the steering gear if the vessel is so equipped.
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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.