46 CFR 140.805: Towing safety checks before getting underway

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out checks for a towing vessel before it gets underway. The officer in charge of the navigational watch must ensure the tow is configured and secured, equipment and cargo are secured, the towing vessel is made up to the tow, and the vessel can safely maneuver the tow. The officer must give due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage.

Applies toThe officer in charge of the navigational watch for a towing vessel.

What it says

  1. Before getting underway, the officer in charge of the navigational watch for a towing vessel must ensure the listed safety items, giving due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage.

    “Prior to getting underway, and giving due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage, the officer in charge of the navigational watch for a towing vessel must ensure that:”

  2. The officer must ensure that the barges, vessels, or objects making up the tow are properly configured and secured.

    46 CFR 140.805(a)“The barges, vessels, or objects making up the tow are properly configured and secured;”

  3. The officer must ensure that equipment, cargo, and industrial components on board the tow are properly secured and made ready for transit.

    46 CFR 140.805(b)“Equipment, cargo, and industrial components on board the tow are properly secured and made ready for transit;”

  4. The officer must ensure that the towing vessel is safely and securely made up to the tow.

    46 CFR 140.805(c)“The towing vessel is safely and securely made up to the tow; and”

  5. The officer must ensure that the towing vessel has appropriate horsepower or bollard pull and can safely maneuver the tow.

    46 CFR 140.805(d)“The towing vessel has appropriate horsepower or bollard pull and is capable of safely maneuvering the tow.”

Common questions

Who must check towing safety before a towing vessel gets underway?

The officer in charge of the navigational watch for the towing vessel must ensure the listed items are met before getting underway.

“the officer in charge of the navigational watch for a towing vessel must ensure that:”

What must be true about the towing vessel's power under 46 CFR 140.805?

The towing vessel must have appropriate horsepower or bollard pull. It must also be capable of safely maneuvering the tow.

“The towing vessel has appropriate horsepower or bollard pull and is capable of safely maneuvering the tow.”

What conditions must the officer consider before getting underway?

The officer must give due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage.

“giving due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage”

The text of 46 CFR 140.805

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

Towing safety

Prior to getting underway, and giving due consideration to the prevailing and expected conditions of the trip or voyage, the officer in charge of the navigational watch for a towing vessel must ensure that:

(a) The barges, vessels, or objects making up the tow are properly configured and secured;

(b) Equipment, cargo, and industrial components on board the tow are properly secured and made ready for transit;

(c) The towing vessel is safely and securely made up to the tow; and

(d) The towing vessel has appropriate horsepower or bollard pull and is capable of safely maneuvering the tow.

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.