46 CFR 108.570: Rescue boat embarkation, launching and recovery
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets requirements for how rescue boats are boarded, launched and recovered. Each rescue boat must be launchable while the unit makes headway or is in a current, and must be recoverable rapidly when fully loaded. Added rules apply if the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft.
Applies toRescue boats and their embarkation, launching and recovery arrangements, with added requirements where the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft.
What it says
Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the unit making headway of 5 knots in calm water, or with the unit anchored or bearing on the bottom in a current of up to 5 knots.
46 CFR 108.570(a)“Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the unit making headway of 5 knots in calm water, or with the unit anchored or bearing on the bottom in a current of up to 5 knots.”
A painter may be used to meet the launching requirement in paragraph (a).
46 CFR 108.570(a)“A painter may be used to meet this requirement.”
Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
46 CFR 108.570(b)“Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.”
If the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft, it must meet the embarkation arrangement and launching station requirements of § 108.540.
46 CFR 108.570(c)(1)“The rescue boat must meet the embarkation arrangement and launching station requirements of § 108.540.”
If the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft and its launching arrangement uses a single fall, it may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
46 CFR 108.570(c)(3)“If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170, instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.”
Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when it is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
46 CFR 108.570(d)“Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.”
Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
46 CFR 108.570(e)“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.”
Each rescue boat launching appliance must be able to hoist the fully loaded rescue boat at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
46 CFR 108.570(f)“at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).”
Common questions
Can a painter be used to meet the rescue boat launching requirement?
Yes. The text says a painter may be used to meet the requirement that the rescue boat be launchable at 5 knots headway in calm water, or anchored or bearing on the bottom in a current of up to 5 knots.
“A painter may be used to meet this requirement.”
Does a rescue boat launching appliance need a powered winch?
Yes. Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.”
What release gear can a rescue boat survival craft use on a single fall?
If the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft and its launching arrangement uses a single fall, it may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
“If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170, instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.”
How fast must a rescue boat launching appliance hoist the boat?
It must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat, loaded with its full rescue boat complement of persons and equipment, at not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat when loaded with its full rescue boat complement of persons and equipment”
The text of 46 CFR 108.570
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Rescue boat embarkation, launching and recovery arrangements
(a) Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the unit making headway of 5 knots in calm water, or with the unit anchored or bearing on the bottom in a current of up to 5 knots. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
(b) Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
(c) If the rescue boat is one of the unit's survival craft, the rescue boat must also be as follows:
(1) The rescue boat must meet the embarkation arrangement and launching station requirements of § 108.540.
(2) The rescue boat must meet the launching arrangement requirements of §§ 108.550 and 108.557, and if the launching arrangement uses falls and a winch, § 108.553.
(3) If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170, instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
(d) Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. If the rescue boat is also a lifeboat, rapid recovery must be possible when loaded with its lifeboat equipment and an approved rescue boat complement of at least six persons.
(e) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
(f) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat when loaded with its full rescue boat complement of persons and equipment at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
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.