46 CFR 131.720: Use of approved buoyant work vests

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers how an approved buoyant work vest may be used aboard a vessel. It is safety apparel for crew members working near or over the water. It does not count toward the vessel's lifejacket complement and may not replace a lifejacket in a drill.

What it says

  1. An approved buoyant work vest is an item of safety apparel.

    46 CFR 131.720(a)“An approved buoyant work vest is an item of safety apparel”

  2. A crew member may wear an approved buoyant work vest carried aboard when working near or over the water.

    46 CFR 131.720(a)“may be carried aboard for wear by a crew member when working near or over the water”

  3. The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.

    46 CFR 131.720(b)“The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.”

  4. The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.

    46 CFR 131.720(c)“The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.”

Common questions

Can a buoyant work vest count as a lifejacket?

No. The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.

“The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.”

Can I wear a buoyant work vest during a drill?

Not instead of a lifejacket. The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.

“The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.”

When may a crew member wear a buoyant work vest?

A crew member may wear an approved buoyant work vest when working near or over the water.

“may be carried aboard for wear by a crew member when working near or over the water”

The text of 46 CFR 131.720

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

Use

(a) An approved buoyant work vest is an item of safety apparel and may be carried aboard for wear by a crew member when working near or over the water.

(b) The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.

(c) The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.

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.