46 CFR 140.640: Pilothouse resource management on towing vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets duties for the officer in charge of a navigational watch on a towing vessel. The officer must keep the navigation assessment complete and shared, and must act if an oncoming watchstander is not capable. Relief must wait while a maneuver to avoid a hazard is taking place.
Applies toThe section applies to the officer in charge of a navigational watch and to a person about to assume those duties on a towing vessel.
What it says
The officer in charge of a navigational watch must ensure that other watch members know the navigation assessment required by § 140.635, the chain of command, the decision-making process, and that information sharing is critical to vessel safety.
46 CFR 140.640(a)(1)“Ensure that other members of the navigational watch have a working knowledge of the navigation assessment required by § 140.635”
The officer in charge of a navigational watch must ensure the navigation assessment required by § 140.635 is complete, updated, communicated and available throughout the trip.
46 CFR 140.640(a)(2)“Ensure that the navigation assessment required by § 140.635 is complete, updated, communicated and available throughout the trip.”
The officer in charge of a navigational watch must ensure that watch change procedures include all items listed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
46 CFR 140.640(a)(3)“Ensure that watch change procedures incorporate all items listed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.”
The officer in charge of a navigational watch must take actions, including delaying watch change or pausing the voyage, if there is reasonable cause to believe an oncoming watchstander is not immediately capable of carrying out his or her duties effectively.
46 CFR 140.640(a)(4)“Take actions (to include delaying watch change or pausing the voyage) if there is reasonable cause to believe that an oncoming watchstander is not immediately capable”
The officer in charge of a navigational watch must maintain situational awareness and minimize distractions.
46 CFR 140.640(a)(5)“Maintain situational awareness and minimize distractions.”
Before assuming duties as officer in charge of a navigational watch, a person must complete the navigation assessment required by § 140.635, verify the operational condition of the towing vessel, and verify that adequate personnel are available to assume the watch.
46 CFR 140.640(b)“Prior to assuming duties as officer in charge of a navigational watch, a person must:”
If the officer in charge of a navigational watch is to be relieved while a maneuver or other action to avoid any hazard is taking place, the relief must be deferred until that action has been completed.
46 CFR 140.640(c)“the relief of that officer in charge of a navigational watch must be deferred until such action has been completed.”
Common questions
Can a watch change be delayed on a towing vessel?
Yes. The officer in charge of a navigational watch must take actions, including delaying the watch change or pausing the voyage, if there is reasonable cause to believe an oncoming watchstander is not immediately capable of carrying out his or her duties effectively.
“Take actions (to include delaying watch change or pausing the voyage) if there is reasonable cause to believe that an oncoming watchstander is not immediately capable”
What must a person do before taking over as officer in charge of a navigational watch?
The person must complete the navigation assessment required by § 140.635. The person must also verify the operational condition of the towing vessel and verify that adequate personnel are available to assume the watch.
“Prior to assuming duties as officer in charge of a navigational watch, a person must:”
Can the officer in charge of a navigational watch be relieved during a hazard avoidance maneuver?
No. The relief must be deferred until the maneuver or other action to avoid the hazard has been completed.
“the relief of that officer in charge of a navigational watch must be deferred until such action has been completed.”
The text of 46 CFR 140.640
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Pilothouse resource management
(a) The officer in charge of a navigational watch must:
(1) Ensure that other members of the navigational watch have a working knowledge of the navigation assessment required by § 140.635, and understand the chain of command, the decision-making process, and the fact that information sharing is critical to the safety of the vessel.
(2) Ensure that the navigation assessment required by § 140.635 is complete, updated, communicated and available throughout the trip.
(3) Ensure that watch change procedures incorporate all items listed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(4) Take actions (to include delaying watch change or pausing the voyage) if there is reasonable cause to believe that an oncoming watchstander is not immediately capable of carrying out his or her duties effectively.
(5) Maintain situational awareness and minimize distractions.
(b) Prior to assuming duties as officer in charge of a navigational watch, a person must:
(1) Complete the navigation assessment required by § 140.635;
(2) Verify the operational condition of the towing vessel; and
(3) Verify that there are adequate personnel available to assume the watch.
(c) If at any time the officer in charge of a navigational watch is to be relieved when a maneuver or other action to avoid any hazard is taking place, the relief of that officer in charge of a navigational watch must be deferred until such action has been completed.
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.