46 CFR 116.100: General construction and arrangement requirements for vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets general requirements for how a vessel is built and arranged. The vessel must allow safe operation under its Certificate of Inspection. Vessels must also meet the applicable provisions of subchapter S, with one stated alternative.

Applies toParagraph (b) applies to vessels to which this subchapter applies.

What it says

  1. The construction and arrangement of a vessel must allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection.

    46 CFR 116.100(a)“The construction and arrangement of a vessel must allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection”

  2. In deciding whether construction and arrangement allow safe operation, consideration must be given to a seaworthy hull, protection against fire, means of escape in case of a sudden unexpected casualty, guards and rails in hazardous places, ventilation of enclosed spaces, and necessary facilities for passengers and crew.

    46 CFR 116.100(a)“giving consideration to provisions for a seaworthy hull, protection against fire, means of escape in case of a sudden unexpected casualty, guards and rails in hazardous places, ventilation of enclosed spaces, and necessary facilities for passengers and crew.”

  3. Vessels to which this subchapter applies must meet the applicable provisions in subchapter S (Subdivision and Stability) of this chapter.

    46 CFR 116.100(b)“Vessels to which this subchapter applies must meet the applicable provisions in subchapter S (Subdivision and Stability) of this chapter”

  4. The requirements in subpart K of this part may be met in place of the requirements of §§ 171.124 through 171.155 in subchapter S of this chapter.

    46 CFR 116.100(b)“except that the requirements in subpart K of this part may be met in lieu of the requirements of §§ 171.124 through 171.155 in subchapter S of this chapter.”

Common questions

What must a vessel's construction and arrangement allow?

They must allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection.

“The construction and arrangement of a vessel must allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection”

Do vessels have to meet subchapter S stability requirements?

Yes, vessels to which this subchapter applies must meet the applicable provisions in subchapter S (Subdivision and Stability) of this chapter. Subpart K of this part may be met in lieu of §§ 171.124 through 171.155.

“Vessels to which this subchapter applies must meet the applicable provisions in subchapter S (Subdivision and Stability) of this chapter”

Can subpart K be used instead of parts of subchapter S?

Yes, the requirements in subpart K of this part may be met in lieu of the requirements of §§ 171.124 through 171.155 in subchapter S of this chapter.

“except that the requirements in subpart K of this part may be met in lieu of the requirements of §§ 171.124 through 171.155 in subchapter S of this chapter.”

The text of 46 CFR 116.100

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

General requirements

(a) The construction and arrangement of a vessel must allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection giving consideration to provisions for a seaworthy hull, protection against fire, means of escape in case of a sudden unexpected casualty, guards and rails in hazardous places, ventilation of enclosed spaces, and necessary facilities for passengers and crew.

(b) Vessels to which this subchapter applies must meet the applicable provisions in subchapter S (Subdivision and Stability) of this chapter, except that the requirements in subpart K of this part may be met in lieu of the requirements of §§ 171.124 through 171.155 in subchapter S of this chapter.

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.