46 CFR 140.210: Master and crew safety responsibilities on towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section makes the master responsible for the safety of the towing vessel. It requires the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch to stop and correct unsafe conditions before proceeding. It also lists the crew's duties, including reporting unsafe conditions.

What it says

  1. The master is responsible for the safety of the towing vessel, which includes adhering to the COI and complying with the applicable provisions of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 140.210(a)“The safety of the towing vessel is the responsibility of the master and includes:”

  2. The master's safety responsibility includes complying with the TSMS, if one is applicable to the vessel, and supervising all persons onboard in carrying out their assigned duties.

    46 CFR 140.210(a)(4)“Supervision of all persons onboard in carrying out their assigned duties.”

  3. If the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch believes it is unsafe to proceed, that an operation endangers the vessel or crew, or that an unsafe condition exists, he or she must ensure adequate corrective action is taken and must not proceed until it is safe.

    46 CFR 140.210(b)“must ensure that adequate corrective action is taken and must not proceed until it is safe to do so.”

  4. Nothing in this subpart limits the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch, at his or her own responsibility, from diverting from the route prescribed in the COI or taking steps deemed necessary and prudent to assist vessels in distress or for other emergency conditions.

    46 CFR 140.210(c)“at his or her own responsibility, from diverting from the route prescribed in the COI”

  5. The crew must adhere to the COI, comply with the applicable provisions of this subchapter, and comply with the TSMS if one is applicable to the vessel.

    46 CFR 140.210(d)(3)“Comply with the TSMS, if one is applicable to the vessel;”

  6. The crew must ensure the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch is made aware of all known aspects of the vessel's condition, including vessels being pushed, pulled, or hauled alongside and the equipment and accessories used for that.

    46 CFR 140.210(d)(4)“Ensure that the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch is made aware of all known aspects of the condition of the vessel, including:”

  7. The crew must minimize any distraction from the operation of the vessel or performance of duty.

    46 CFR 140.210(d)(5)“Minimize any distraction from the operation of the vessel or performance of duty; and”

  8. The crew must report unsafe conditions to the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch and take effective action to prevent accidents.

    46 CFR 140.210(d)(6)“Report unsafe conditions to the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch and take effective action to prevent accidents.”

Common questions

Who is responsible for the safety of a towing vessel?

The master is responsible for the safety of the towing vessel. This includes adhering to the COI and complying with this subchapter.

“The safety of the towing vessel is the responsibility of the master and includes:”

Can a towing vessel master proceed if conditions are unsafe?

No. The master or officer in charge of a navigational watch must ensure adequate corrective action is taken and must not proceed until it is safe to do so.

“must ensure that adequate corrective action is taken and must not proceed until it is safe to do so.”

May a towing vessel master deviate from the COI route to help a vessel in distress?

Yes. Nothing in this subpart limits the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch, at his or her own responsibility, from diverting from the COI route or taking prudent steps to assist vessels in distress or in other emergencies.

“taking such steps as deemed necessary and prudent to assist vessels in distress or for other emergency conditions.”

What must towing vessel crew do about unsafe conditions?

The crew must report unsafe conditions to the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch. They must also take effective action to prevent accidents.

“Report unsafe conditions to the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch and take effective action to prevent accidents.”

The text of 46 CFR 140.210

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

Responsibilities of the master and crew

(a) The safety of the towing vessel is the responsibility of the master and includes:

(1) Adherence to the provisions of the COI;

(2) Compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter;

(3) Compliance with the TSMS, if one is applicable to the vessel; and

(4) Supervision of all persons onboard in carrying out their assigned duties.

(b) If the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch believes it is unsafe for the vessel to proceed, that an operation endangers the vessel or crew, or that an unsafe condition exists, he or she must ensure that adequate corrective action is taken and must not proceed until it is safe to do so.

(c) Nothing in this subpart may be construed in a manner which limits the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch, at his or her own responsibility, from diverting from the route prescribed in the COI or taking such steps as deemed necessary and prudent to assist vessels in distress or for other emergency conditions.

(d) It is the responsibility of the crew to:

(1) Adhere to the provisions of the COI;

(2) Comply with the applicable provisions of this subchapter;

(3) Comply with the TSMS, if one is applicable to the vessel;

(4) Ensure that the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch is made aware of all known aspects of the condition of the vessel, including:

(i) Those vessels being pushed, pulled, or hauled alongside; and

(ii) Equipment and other accessories used for pushing, pulling, or hauling alongside other vessels.

(5) Minimize any distraction from the operation of the vessel or performance of duty; and

(6) Report unsafe conditions to the master or officer in charge of a navigational watch and take effective action to prevent accidents.

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.