33 CFR 164.78: Navigation duties for vessels towing
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets navigation duties for each vessel towing. The owner, master, or operator must ensure that each person directing and controlling the vessel meets eight listed duties. They must also ensure that the tests and inspections required by § 164.80 are done and recorded.
Applies toThe owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing.
What it says
The owner, master, or operator must ensure the person controlling the vessel understands the tow's arrangement and the effects of maneuvering on the vessel towing and on the vessel, barge, or object towed.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(1)“Understands the arrangement of the tow and the effects of maneuvering on the vessel towing and on the vessel, barge, or object being towed;”
The person controlling the vessel must be able to fix its position using installed navigational equipment, aids to navigation, geographic reference-points, and hydrographic contours.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(2)“Can fix the position of the vessel using installed navigational equipment, aids to navigation, geographic reference-points, and hydrographic contours;”
The person controlling the vessel must not fix its position using buoys alone.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(3)“Does not fix the position of the vessel using buoys alone”
The person controlling the vessel must evaluate the danger of each closing visual or radar contact.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(4)“Evaluates the danger of each closing visual or radar contact;”
The person controlling the vessel must know the speed and direction of the current, and the set, drift, and tidal state for the area to be transited.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(6)“Knows the speed and direction of the current, and the set, drift, and tidal state for the area to be transited;”
The vessel must proceed at a safe speed, taking into account the weather, visibility, traffic density, tow draft, possible wake damage, current, and local speed-limits.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(7)“Proceeds at a safe speed taking into account the weather, visibility, density of traffic, draft of tow, possibility of wake damage, speed and direction of the current, and local speed-limits; and”
The person controlling the vessel must monitor the voyage plan required by § 164.80.
33 CFR 164.78(a)(8)“Monitors the voyage plan required by § 164.80.”
The owner, master, or operator must ensure the tests and inspections required by § 164.80 are conducted and the results entered in the log or other record carried on board.
33 CFR 164.78(b)“shall ensure that the tests and inspections required by § 164.80 are conducted and that the results are entered in the log or other record carried on board.”
Common questions
Can a towing vessel fix its position using buoys alone?
No. The person controlling the vessel must not fix its position using buoys alone. If no other aids are available, buoys alone may establish an estimated position.
“if no other aids are available, buoys alone may establish an estimated position.”
What must a towing vessel consider when setting its speed?
It must proceed at a safe speed. The speed must take into account the weather, visibility, density of traffic, draft of tow, possibility of wake damage, current, and local speed-limits.
“Proceeds at a safe speed taking into account the weather, visibility, density of traffic, draft of tow, possibility of wake damage, speed and direction of the current, and local speed-limits; and”
Who is responsible for towing vessel navigation duties under 33 CFR 164.78?
The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing must ensure that each person directing and controlling the movement of the vessel meets the listed duties.
“The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing shall ensure that each person directing and controlling the movement of the vessel—”
The text of 33 CFR 164.78
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Navigation under way: Towing vessels
(a) The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing shall ensure that each person directing and controlling the movement of the vessel—
(1) Understands the arrangement of the tow and the effects of maneuvering on the vessel towing and on the vessel, barge, or object being towed;
(2) Can fix the position of the vessel using installed navigational equipment, aids to navigation, geographic reference-points, and hydrographic contours;
(3) Does not fix the position of the vessel using buoys alone (Buoys are aids to navigation placed in approximate positions either to alert mariners to hazards to navigation or to indicate the orientation of a channel. They may not maintain exact charted positions, because strong or varying currents, heavy seas, ice, and collisions with vessels can move or sink them or set them adrift. Although they may corroborate a position fixed by other means, they cannot fix a position; however, if no other aids are available, buoys alone may establish an estimated position.);
(4) Evaluates the danger of each closing visual or radar contact;
(5) Knows and applies the variation and deviation, where a magnetic compass is fitted and where charts or maps have enough detail to enable this type of correction;
(6) Knows the speed and direction of the current, and the set, drift, and tidal state for the area to be transited;
(7) Proceeds at a safe speed taking into account the weather, visibility, density of traffic, draft of tow, possibility of wake damage, speed and direction of the current, and local speed-limits; and
(8) Monitors the voyage plan required by § 164.80.
(b) The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing shall ensure that the tests and inspections required by § 164.80 are conducted and that the results are entered in the log or other record carried on board.
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.