46 CFR 133.160: Rescue boat launching and recovery arrangements
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets requirements for how a rescue boat is boarded, launched and recovered. It requires approved davits and winches, launching with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water, rapid recovery, and a powered winch motor with a minimum hoisting rate.
Applies toRescue boats and their embarkation, launching and recovery arrangements, including those on an OSV.
What it says
Each davit for a rescue boat must be approved under approval series 160.132 and must have a winch approved under approval series 160.115.
46 CFR 133.160(a)“Each davit for a rescue boat must be approved under approval series 160.132 with a winch approved under approval series 160.115.”
If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the davit may be turned out manually, and an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 may replace a lifeboat release mechanism.
46 CFR 133.160(a)“the davit may be of a type which is turned out manually, and the release mechanism may be an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.”
Each rescue boat must be able to be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position with the number of persons assigned to crew it on board.
46 CFR 133.160(a)“Each rescue boat must be able to be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position with the number of persons assigned to crew the rescue boat on board.”
Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water, and a painter may be used to meet this requirement.
46 CFR 133.160(b)“Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.”
Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when it is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
46 CFR 133.160(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 133.160(e)“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.”
Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the loaded rescue boat at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
46 CFR 133.160(f)“at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).”
Common questions
How fast must the OSV be going when a rescue boat is launched?
Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
“Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water.”
Does a rescue boat winch need a powered motor?
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 hoisting rate must a rescue boat launching appliance meet?
It must be capable of hoisting the loaded rescue boat at not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
“at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).”
Can a rescue boat davit be turned out manually?
Yes, if the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the davit may be of a type which is turned out manually.
“If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the davit may be of a type which is turned out manually”
The text of 46 CFR 133.160
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 davit for a rescue boat must be approved under approval series 160.132 with a winch approved under approval series 160.115. If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the davit may be of a type which is turned out manually, and the release mechanism may be an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism. Each rescue boat must be able to be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position with the number of persons assigned to crew the rescue boat on board. If the rescue boat is also a lifeboat and the other lifeboats are boarded and launched from an embarkation deck, the arrangements must be such that the rescue boat can also be boarded and launched from the embarkation deck.
(b) Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the OSV making headway of 5 knots in calm water. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
(c) Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
(d) Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
(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).
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.