46 CFR 131.340: Recommended emergency instructions placard format
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets out the recommended format and content of a placard for emergency instructions. It covers three situations: rough weather, hazardous bars or flooding; a person overboard; and fire. The text presents these as recommended, not mandatory.
What it says
In rough weather, when crossing hazardous bars, or in flooding, the placard recommends closing each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to prevent taking water aboard or further flooding.
46 CFR 131.340(a)(1)“Close each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to prevent taking water aboard or further flooding in the vessel.”
The placard recommends that offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when the master orders it.
46 CFR 131.340(a)(6)“Offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered to by the master.”
The placard recommends that no one abandon the vessel unless actually forced to, or ordered to by the master.
46 CFR 131.340(a)(7)“Never abandon the vessel unless actually forced to, or ordered to by the master.”
For a man overboard, the placard recommends throwing a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible.
46 CFR 131.340(b)(1)“Throw a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible.”
If the person overboard is not immediately located, the placard recommends notifying other vessels in the vicinity and the Coast Guard, and continuing to search until released by the Coast Guard.
46 CFR 131.340(b)(5)(ii)“Continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.”
For a fire, the placard recommends immediately using a portable fire extinguisher aimed at the base of the flames, and it says never to use water on electrical fires.
46 CFR 131.340(c)(3)“Immediately use a portable fire extinguisher aimed at the base of the flames. Never use water on electrical fires.”
For a fire in machinery spaces, the placard recommends shutting off the fuel supply and ventilation system and activating any fixed extinguishing-system.
46 CFR 131.340(c)(4)“If the fire is in machinery spaces, shut off the fuel supply and ventilation system and activate any fixed extinguishing-system.”
Common questions
What should I do first when a person falls overboard according to the recommended placard?
The recommended placard says to throw a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible. It also says to post a lookout to keep the person in sight.
“Throw a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible.”
Can I use water on an electrical fire?
No. The recommended placard says never to use water on electrical fires.
“Never use water on electrical fires.”
When should offshore workers put on immersion suits or lifejackets?
The recommended placard says they should do so if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when the master orders it. Immersion suits apply if required aboard.
“Offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered to by the master.”
How long should a search for a person overboard continue?
If the person is not immediately located, the recommended placard says to continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.
“Continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.”
The text of 46 CFR 131.340
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Recommended placard for emergency instructions
The following are the recommended format and content of the placard for emergency instructions:
EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS
(a) Rough weather at sea, crossing of hazardous bars, or flooding. (1) Close each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to prevent taking water aboard or further flooding in the vessel.
(2) Keep bilges dry to prevent loss of stability from water in bilges. Use power-driven bilge pump, hand pump, and buckets to dewater.
(3) Align fire pumps to serve as bilge pumps if possible.
(4) Check, for leakage, each intake and discharge line that penetrates the hull.
(5) Offshore workers remain seated and evenly distributed.
(6) Offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered to by the master.
(7) Never abandon the vessel unless actually forced to, or ordered to by the master.
(8) Prepare survival craft—life floats, (inflatable) rafts, (inflatable) buoyant apparatus, and boats—for launching.
(b) “Man overboard”. (1) Throw a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible.
(2) Post a lookout to keep the person overboard in sight.
(3) Launch the rescue boat and maneuver it to pick up the person overboard, or maneuver the vessel to pick up the person.
(4) Have a crew member put on an immersion suit or lifejacket, have a safety line made fast to the crew member, and have the crew member stand by to jump into the water to assist the person overboard if necessary.
(5) If the person overboard is not immediately located—
(i) Notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard; and
(ii) Continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.
(c) Fire. (1) Cut off air to the fire: close hatches, ports, doors, manual ventilators, and the like and shut off the ventilation system.
(2) De-energize electrical systems supplying the affected compartment.
(3) Immediately use a portable fire extinguisher aimed at the base of the flames. Never use water on electrical fires.
(4) If the fire is in machinery spaces, shut off the fuel supply and ventilation system and activate any fixed extinguishing-system.
(5) Maneuver the vessel to minimize the effect of wind on the fire.
(6) If unable to control the fire, notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard.
(7) Move offshore workers away from fire; have them don lifejackets and, if necessary, prepare to abandon the vessel.
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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.