46 CFR 140.670: Use of automatic pilot on towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets conditions for using an automatic pilot in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations. The master must ensure manual control is possible at once, a competent person is ready to steer, and changeovers are made by or supervised by the officer in charge of the navigational watch. The section does not apply to towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d).

Applies toMasters using an automatic pilot in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations, except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d).

What it says

  1. Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), the master must ensure the conditions in paragraphs (a) through (c) are met when an automatic pilot is used in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations.

    “Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), when an automatic pilot is used in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations”

  2. Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), the master must ensure it is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering when an automatic pilot is used in the situations the section names.

    46 CFR 140.670(a)“It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;”

  3. Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), the master must ensure a competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control when an automatic pilot is used in the situations the section names.

    46 CFR 140.670(b)“A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and”

  4. Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), the master must ensure the changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch.

    46 CFR 140.670(c)“The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch.”

Common questions

Who must ensure manual steering control is available when an autopilot is used?

The master must ensure it is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering. This applies when an automatic pilot is used in the situations the section names, except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d).

“It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;”

Who can switch between automatic and manual steering?

The changeover must be made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch. This does not apply to towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d).

“The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch.”

Does the autopilot rule apply to towing vessels in compliance with 33 CFR 164.13(d)?

No. The section excepts towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d).

“Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), when an automatic pilot is used in areas of high traffic density”

The text of 46 CFR 140.670

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

Use of auto pilot

Except for towing vessels in compliance with requirements in 33 CFR 164.13(d), when an automatic pilot is used in areas of high traffic density, conditions of restricted visibility, or any other hazardous navigational situations, the master must ensure that:

(a) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;

(b) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and

(c) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer in charge of the navigational watch.

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.