33 CFR 401.57: Disembarking or boarding vessels passing through
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section controls who may disembark or board a vessel while it is passing through. Persons other than crew need an officer's authorization, and crew may do so only for essential duties directed by the Master. Persons must be assisted by crew and must confirm with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured first.
What it says
Except as authorized by an officer, no person other than a member of the crew of a vessel passing through may disembark or board any vessel while the vessel is passing through.
33 CFR 401.57(a)“Except as authorized by an officer, no person, other than a member of the crew of a vessel passing through, shall disembark or board any vessel while the vessel is passing through.”
A member of the crew of a vessel passing through must not disembark or board except to carry out essential duties as directed by the Master.
33 CFR 401.57(b)“No member of the crew of a vessel passing through shall disembark or board except for the purpose of carrying out essential duties as directed by the Master.”
A member of the vessel's crew must assist persons who are disembarking or boarding, and must do so under safe conditions.
33 CFR 401.57(c)“Persons disembarking or boarding shall be assisted by a member of the vessel's crew under safe conditions.”
Persons intending to disembark or board a vessel must do so only after they have confirmed with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured in the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.
33 CFR 401.57(d)“Persons intending on disembarking or boarding a vessel shall only do so after they have confirmed with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured in the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.”
Common questions
Can a crew member leave or board a vessel while it is passing through?
A crew member of a vessel passing through may do so only to carry out essential duties as directed by the Master.
“No member of the crew of a vessel passing through shall disembark or board except for the purpose of carrying out essential duties as directed by the Master.”
Who helps people disembark or board a vessel in a lock?
A member of the vessel's crew must assist them, and must do so under safe conditions.
“Persons disembarking or boarding shall be assisted by a member of the vessel's crew under safe conditions.”
What must be confirmed before disembarking or boarding?
Persons must confirm with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured in the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.
“Persons intending on disembarking or boarding a vessel shall only do so after they have confirmed with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured in the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.”
The text of 33 CFR 401.57
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Disembarking or boarding
(a) Except as authorized by an officer, no person, other than a member of the crew of a vessel passing through, shall disembark or board any vessel while the vessel is passing through.
(b) No member of the crew of a vessel passing through shall disembark or board except for the purpose of carrying out essential duties as directed by the Master.
(c) Persons disembarking or boarding shall be assisted by a member of the vessel's crew under safe conditions.
(d) Persons intending on disembarking or boarding a vessel shall only do so after they have confirmed with the Captain that the vessel is fully secured in the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.
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.