33 CFR 164.53: Non-operating required equipment and reporting

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers equipment required by this part that stops operating properly during a voyage. The person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call, subject to Coast Guard directions. If the AIS, radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear fails, that person must report it as soon as possible.

Applies toIt applies to the person directing the movement of a vessel when equipment required by this part stops operating properly during a voyage.

What it says

  1. If equipment required by this part stops operating properly during a voyage, the person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call.

    33 CFR 164.53(a)“If during a voyage any equipment required by this part stops operating properly, the person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call”

  2. Continuing to the next port of call is subject to the directions of the District Commander or the Captain of the Port, as provided by part 160 of this chapter.

    33 CFR 164.53(a)“subject to the directions of the District Commander or the Captain of the Port, as provided by part 160 of this chapter”

  3. If the vessel's AIS, radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear stops operating properly, the person directing the movement of the vessel must report it.

    33 CFR 164.53(b)“If the vessel's automatic identification system (AIS) radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear stops operating properly”

  4. The report must go to the nearest Captain of the Port or District Commander, or to the Vessel Traffic Center if the vessel is participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, and must be made as soon as possible.

    33 CFR 164.53(b)“to the nearest Captain of the Port, District Commander, or, if participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, to the Vessel Traffic Center, as soon as possible.”

Common questions

Can I keep going if required equipment fails during a voyage?

Yes. The person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call, subject to the directions of the District Commander or the Captain of the Port.

“the person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call, subject to the directions of the District Commander or the Captain of the Port”

Who do I report failed radar or AIS to?

Report it to the nearest Captain of the Port or District Commander. If the vessel is participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, report it to the Vessel Traffic Center.

“to the nearest Captain of the Port, District Commander, or, if participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, to the Vessel Traffic Center, as soon as possible.”

How soon must I report a failed gyrocompass or other listed equipment?

The person directing the movement of the vessel must report it as soon as possible. This applies to the AIS, radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear.

“must report or cause to be reported that it is not operating properly to the nearest Captain of the Port”

The text of 33 CFR 164.53

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

Deviations from rules and reporting: Non-operating equipment

(a) If during a voyage any equipment required by this part stops operating properly, the person directing the movement of the vessel may continue to the next port of call, subject to the directions of the District Commander or the Captain of the Port, as provided by part 160 of this chapter.

(b) If the vessel's automatic identification system (AIS) radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear stops operating properly, the person directing the movement of the vessel must report or cause to be reported that it is not operating properly to the nearest Captain of the Port, District Commander, or, if participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, to the Vessel Traffic Center, as soon as possible.

Sections it refers to

  • 33 CFR part 160

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.