46 CFR 140.820: Recordkeeping for towing gear
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers records for towing gear. The results of inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel. A record of each towline, face wire, and spring line must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review, with minimum information.
What it says
The results of the inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
46 CFR 140.820(a)“The results of the inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
A record of the type, size, and service of each towline, face wire, and spring line used to make the towing vessel fast to her tow must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review.
46 CFR 140.820(b)“A record of the type, size, and service of each towline, face wire, and spring line, used to make the towing vessel fast to her tow, must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review.”
The record must include, at a minimum, the dates when examinations were performed, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the name(s) of the person(s) conducting the examinations.
46 CFR 140.820(b)“The following minimum information is required in the record: The dates when examinations were performed, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the name(s) of the person(s) conducting the examinations.”
Common questions
Where must towing gear inspection results be documented?
The results must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel. The inspections are those required by 33 CFR 164.76.
“The results of the inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
Who can review towline, face wire, and spring line records?
The record must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review.
“must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review.”
What information must towing gear examination records contain?
The record must include the dates of the examinations, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the name(s) of the person(s) conducting the examinations.
“The dates when examinations were performed, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the name(s) of the person(s) conducting the examinations.”
The text of 46 CFR 140.820
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Recordkeeping for towing gear
(a) The results of the inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
(b) A record of the type, size, and service of each towline, face wire, and spring line, used to make the towing vessel fast to her tow, must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review. The following minimum information is required in the record: The dates when examinations were performed, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the name(s) of the person(s) conducting the examinations.
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.