46 CFR 140.620: Navigational safety equipment on towing vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers navigational safety equipment on towing vessels not subject to 33 CFR 164.82. The owner, managing operator, or master must keep required equipment fully functioning. Failures during a voyage must be repaired at the earliest practicable time and recorded.
Applies toA towing vessel not subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.82.
What it says
This section applies only to a towing vessel that is not subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.82.
46 CFR 140.620(a)“This section applies to a towing vessel not subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.82.”
The owner, managing operator, or master of each towing vessel must maintain the required navigational-safety equipment in a fully-functioning, operational condition.
46 CFR 140.620(b)“The owner, managing operator, or master of each towing vessel must maintain the required navigational-safety equipment in a fully-functioning, operational condition.”
Navigational safety equipment such as radar, gyrocompass, sounding devices, automatic dependent surveillance equipment, or navigational lighting that fails during a voyage must be repaired at the earliest practicable time.
46 CFR 140.620(c)“that fails during a voyage must be repaired at the earliest practicable time.”
When deciding whether it is safe for the vessel to proceed, the owner, managing operator, or master must consider the state of the equipment, along with factors such as weather, visibility, traffic, and the dictates of good seamanship.
46 CFR 140.620(c)“The owner, managing operator, or master must consider the state of the equipment (along with such factors as weather, visibility, traffic, and the dictates of good seamanship) when deciding whether it is safe for the vessel to proceed.”
The failure and the later repair or replacement of navigational safety equipment must be recorded.
46 CFR 140.620(d)“The failure and subsequent repair or replacement of navigational safety equipment must be recorded.”
The record must be made in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
46 CFR 140.620(d)“The record must be made in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
Common questions
Who must keep navigational safety equipment working on a towing vessel?
The owner, managing operator, or master of each towing vessel must keep the required navigational-safety equipment in a fully-functioning, operational condition.
“The owner, managing operator, or master of each towing vessel must maintain the required navigational-safety equipment in a fully-functioning, operational condition.”
What happens if radar or other navigation equipment fails during a voyage?
The equipment must be repaired at the earliest practicable time. The owner, managing operator, or master must consider the state of the equipment, along with factors such as weather, visibility, and traffic, when deciding whether it is safe to proceed.
“The owner, managing operator, or master must consider the state of the equipment (along with such factors as weather, visibility, traffic, and the dictates of good seamanship) when deciding whether it is safe for the vessel to proceed.”
Where do I record a navigational equipment failure and repair?
The failure and the later repair or replacement must be recorded. The record must be made in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
“The record must be made in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
The text of 46 CFR 140.620
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Navigational safety equipment
(a) This section applies to a towing vessel not subject to the requirements of 33 CFR 164.82.
(b) The owner, managing operator, or master of each towing vessel must maintain the required navigational-safety equipment in a fully-functioning, operational condition.
(c) Navigational safety equipment such as radar, gyrocompass, echo depth-sounding or other sounding device, automatic dependent surveillance equipment, or navigational lighting that fails during a voyage must be repaired at the earliest practicable time. The owner, managing operator, or master must consider the state of the equipment (along with such factors as weather, visibility, traffic, and the dictates of good seamanship) when deciding whether it is safe for the vessel to proceed.
(d) The failure and subsequent repair or replacement of navigational safety equipment must be recorded. The record must be made in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
Sections it refers to
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.