33 CFR 164.72: Navigational-safety equipment on towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lists the navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications that each towing vessel must have. Requirements vary by vessel size and by where the vessel tows, such as Western Rivers, other navigable waters, or seaward waters. Table 164.72 summarizes the requirements for towing vessels of 12 meters or more in length.

Applies toEach towing vessel, except as provided by § 164.01(b).

What it says

Each towing vessel must be equipped with the listed navigational-safety equipment, except as provided by § 164.01(b).
33 CFR 164.72(a)“Except as provided by § 164.01(b), each towing vessel must be equipped with the following navigational-safety equipment:”
A towing vessel of less than 300 tons gross tonnage that tows on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western Rivers, must have a marine radar meeting the requirements of 47 CFR part 80 and the RTCM standard with display Category II and stabilization Category Bravo.
33 CFR 164.72(a)(1)(i)(B)“RTCM Standard for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, Version 1.1, display Category II and stabilization Category Bravo.”
A towing vessel must have a searchlight that can be directed from the main steering station and can illuminate objects at a distance of at least two times the length of the tow.
33 CFR 164.72(a)(2)“A searchlight, directable from the vessel's main steering station and capable of illuminating objects at a distance of at least two times the length of the tow.”
A towing vessel must have an illuminated card-type magnetic steering compass readable from the main steering station. A vessel that tows exclusively on Western Rivers may instead have an illuminated swing-meter.
33 CFR 164.72(a)(4)(i)“An illuminated swing-meter or an illuminated card-type magnetic steering compass readable from the vessel's main steering station, if the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers; or”
By August 2, 2001, a towing vessel must have an echo depth-sounding device readable from the main steering station, unless it tows exclusively on Western Rivers.
33 CFR 164.72(a)(5)“By August 2, 2001, an echo depth-sounding device readable from the vessel's main steering station, unless the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers.”
A towing vessel must carry and maintain marine charts or maps of the areas to be transited, published by the National Ocean Service (NOS), the ACOE, or a river authority.
33 CFR 164.72(b)(1)“Marine charts or maps of the areas to be transited, published by the National Ocean Service (NOS), the ACOE, or a river authority that satisfy the following requirements:”
Charts or maps must be of a large enough scale and have enough detail to make safe navigation of the areas possible.
33 CFR 164.72(b)(1)(i)“The charts or maps must be of a large enough scale and have enough detail to make safe navigation of the areas possible.”
A towing vessel must carry a currently corrected edition of, or an applicable currently corrected extract from, each listed general publication for the area to be transited.
33 CFR 164.72(b)(2)“A currently corrected edition of, or an applicable currently corrected extract from, each of the following publications for the area to be transited:”

Common questions

Does a towing vessel need an electronic position-fixing device?

Yes, if the vessel tows seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes. The device can be a satellite navigational system such as GPS as required by § 164.41.

“An electronic position-fixing device, a satellite navigational system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) as required by § 164.41, if the vessel engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes.”

Which VHF-FM channels must a towing vessel monitor?

It must keep a continuous listening watch on the designated calling channel, VHF-FM Channel 13, except on portions of the Lower Mississippi River where it is Channel 67. It must also separately monitor VHF-FM Channel 16, with stated exceptions.

“to maintain a continuous listening watch on the designated calling channel, VHF-FM Channel 13 (except on portions of the Lower Mississippi River, where VHF-FM Channel 67 is the designated calling channel)”

May a towing vessel use foreign government charts?

Yes. It may use currently corrected marine charts or maps, or applicable extracts, published by a foreign government instead of the charts otherwise required, if they meet the stated conditions.

“currently corrected marine charts or maps, or applicable extracts, published by a foreign government.”

Can a towing vessel carry a swing-meter instead of a magnetic compass?

Table 164.72 notes that a towing vessel may carry either a swing-meter or a magnetic compass. The text of paragraph (a)(4) allows the swing-meter only for a vessel that tows exclusively on Western Rivers.

“A towing vessel may carry either a swing-meter or a magnetic compass.”

The text of 33 CFR 164.72

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

Navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications required on towing vessels

(a) Except as provided by § 164.01(b), each towing vessel must be equipped with the following navigational-safety equipment:

(1) Marine radar. By August 2, 1997, a marine radar that meets the following applicable requirements:

(i) For a vessel of less than 300 tons gross tonnage that engages in towing on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western Rivers, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Standard for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, Version 1.1, display Category II and stabilization Category Bravo.

(ii) For a vessel of less than 300 tons gross tonnage that engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the FCC specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Standard for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of Less Than 300 Tons Gross Tonnage, RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD, Version 1.1, display Category I and stabilization Category Alpha.

(iii) For a vessel of 300 tons gross tonnage or more that engages in towing on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western rivers, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Recommended Standards for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of 300 Tons Gross Tonnage and Upwards, RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X, Version 1.2 except the requirements for azimuth stabilization in paragraph 3.10.

(iv) For a vessel of 300 tons gross tonnage or more that engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes, the radar must meet—

(A) The requirements of the FCC specified by 47 CFR part 80; and

(B) RTCM Recommended Standards for Marine Radar Equipment Installed on Ships of 300 Tons Gross Tonnage and Upwards, RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X, Version 1.2.

(v) A towing vessel with an existing radar must meet the applicable requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) (i) through (iv) of this section by August 2, 1998; except that a towing vessel with an existing radar must meet the display and stabilization requirements of paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section by August 2, 2001.

(2) Searchlight. A searchlight, directable from the vessel's main steering station and capable of illuminating objects at a distance of at least two times the length of the tow.

(3) VHF-FM radio. An installation or multiple installations of VHF-FM radios as prescribed by part 26 of this chapter and 47 CFR part 80, to maintain a continuous listening watch on the designated calling channel, VHF-FM Channel 13 (except on portions of the Lower Mississippi River, where VHF-FM Channel 67 is the designated calling channel), and to separately monitor the International Distress and Calling Channel, VHF-FM Channel 16, except when transmitting or receiving traffic on other VHF-FM channels or when participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) or monitoring a channel of a VTS. (Each U.S. towing vessel of 26 feet (about 8 meters) or more in length, except a public vessel, must hold a ship-radio-station license for radio transmitters (including radar and EPIRBs), and each operator must hold a restricted operator's license or higher. To get an application for either license, call (800) 418-FORM or (202) 418-FORM, or write to the FCC; Wireless Bureau, Licensing Division; 1270 Fairfield Road; Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.)

(4) Magnetic compass. Either—

(i) An illuminated swing-meter or an illuminated card-type magnetic steering compass readable from the vessel's main steering station, if the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers; or

(ii) An illuminated card-type magnetic steering compass readable from the vessel's main steering station.

(5) Echo depth-sounding device. By August 2, 2001, an echo depth-sounding device readable from the vessel's main steering station, unless the vessel engages in towing exclusively on Western Rivers.

(6) Electronic position-fixing device. An electronic position-fixing device, a satellite navigational system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) as required by § 164.41, if the vessel engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes.

(b) Each towing vessel must carry on board and maintain the following:

(1) Charts or maps. Marine charts or maps of the areas to be transited, published by the National Ocean Service (NOS), the ACOE, or a river authority that satisfy the following requirements:

(i) The charts or maps must be of a large enough scale and have enough detail to make safe navigation of the areas possible.

(ii) The charts or maps must be either—

(A) Current editions or currently corrected editions, if the vessel engages in towing exclusively on navigable waters of the U.S., including Western Rivers; or

(B) Currently corrected editions, if the vessel engages in towing seaward of navigable waters of the U.S. or more than three nautical miles from shore on the Great Lakes.

(iii) The charts or maps may be, instead of charts or maps required by paragraphs (b)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section, currently corrected marine charts or maps, or applicable extracts, published by a foreign government. These charts or maps, or applicable extracts, must contain information similar to that on the charts or maps required by paragraphs (b)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section, be of large enough scale, and have enough detail to make safe navigation of the areas possible, and must be currently corrected.

(2) General publications. A currently corrected edition of, or an applicable currently corrected extract from, each of the following publications for the area to be transited:

(i) If the vessel is engaged in towing exclusively on Western Rivers—

(A) U.S. Coast Guard Light List;

(B) Applicable Notices to Navigation published by the ACOE, or Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs) published by the Coast Guard, for the area to be transited, when available; and

(ii) If the vessel is engaged other than in towing exclusively on Western Rivers—

(A) Coast Guard Light List;

(B) Notices to Mariners published by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or LNMs published by the Coast Guard;

(C) Tidal-current tables published by private entities using data provided by the NOS, or river-current tables published by a river authority;

(D) Tide tables published by private entities using data provided by the NOS; and

(E) U.S. Coast Pilot.

(c) Table 164.72, following, summarizes the navigational-safety equipment, charts or maps, and publications required for towing vessels of 12 meters or more in length engaged in towing:

Table 164.72—Equipment, Charts or Maps, and Publications for Towing Vessels of 12 Meters or More in Length Western rivers U.S. navigable waters other than western rivers Waters seaward of navigable waters and 3 NM or more from shore on the Great Lakes Marine Radar: Towing Vessels of Less Than 300 GT RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD Version 1.1, Display Category II 1 Stabilization Category BRAVO RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD Version 1.1, Display Category II 1 Stabilization Category BRAVO RTCM Paper 71-95/SC112-STD Version 1.1, Display Category I 2 Stabilization Category ALPHA. Towing Vessels of 300 GT or More RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X Version 1.2 (except the Azmuth stabilization requirement in paragraph 3.10). 1 RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X Version 1.2 (except the Azmuth stabilization requirement in paragraph 3.10). 1 RTCM Paper 191-93/SC112-X Version 1.2. 1 Searchlight X X X VHF-FM Radio X X X Magnetic Compass X 3 X X Swing-Meter X 3 Echo Depth-Sounding Device X X Electronic Position-Fixing Device X Charts or Maps

(1) Large enough scale

(1) Large enough scale.

(2) Current edition or currently corrected edition

(2) Currently corrected edition. General Publications

(1) U.S. Coast Guard Light List

(1) U.S. Coast Guard Light List.

(2) Notices to Navigation or Local Notices to Mariners

(2) Local Notices to Mariners

(2) Local Notices to Mariners.

(3) River-current Tables

(3) Tidal-current Tables

(3) Tidal-current Tables.

(4) Tide Tables

(4) Tide Tables.

(5) U.S. Coast Pilot

(5) U.S. Coast Pilot. Notes: 1 Towing vessels with existing radar must meet this requirement by August 2, 1998. 2 Towing vessels with existing radar must meet this requirement by August 2, 1998 but do not need to meet the display and stabilization requirements until August 2, 2001. 3 A towing vessel may carry either a swing-meter or a magnetic compass.

Sections it refers to

33 CFR 164.01
33 CFR 164.41
47 CFR part 80
33 CFR part 26

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.