46 CFR 133.140: Stowage of rescue boats on OSVs
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets how rescue boats must be stowed. Each boat must be ready to launch quickly, placed where it can be launched and recovered, and stowed so it does not interfere with survival craft. It also covers battery recharging and inflated boats.
What it says
Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
46 CFR 133.140(a)(1)“Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.”
Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.
46 CFR 133.140(a)(2)“Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.”
Each rescue boat must be stowed so that neither it nor its stowage arrangements interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.
46 CFR 133.140(a)(3)“Each rescue boat must be stowed in a way that neither the rescue boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.”
Each rescue boat must have a means for recharging its batteries from the OSV's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
46 CFR 133.140(b)“Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the OSV's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.”
Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
46 CFR 133.140(c)“Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.”
Common questions
How quickly must a rescue boat be ready to launch?
Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
“Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.”
What is the maximum voltage for recharging rescue boat batteries?
The recharging means must work from the OSV's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
“Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the OSV's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.”
Can an inflated rescue boat be stored deflated?
No. Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
“Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.”
The text of 46 CFR 133.140
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Stowage of rescue boats
(a) Rescue boats must be stowed as follows:
(1) Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
(2) Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.
(3) Each rescue boat must be stowed in a way that neither the rescue boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.
(b) Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the OSV's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
(c) Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
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.