46 CFR 140.905: Official logbooks on towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers official logbooks for towing vessels of the United States. It says which vessels are required to have one under 46 U.S.C. 11301. It also says the Coast Guard furnishes the logbook and the master must file it.

Applies toTowing vessels of the United States and their masters, as described in the section.

What it says

  1. A towing vessel of the United States, except one on a voyage from a port in the United States to a port in Canada, is required by 46 U.S.C. 11301 to have an official logbook if it meets one of the conditions in paragraph (a).

    46 CFR 140.905(a)“A towing vessel of the United States, except one on a voyage from a port in the United States to a port in Canada, is required by 46 U.S.C. 11301 to have an official logbook if the vessel is:”

  2. A towing vessel on a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port is covered by the logbook requirement, subject to the exception for voyages to a port in Canada.

    46 CFR 140.905(a)(1)“On a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port; or”

  3. A towing vessel of at least 100 gross tons on a voyage between a port in the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean is covered by the logbook requirement.

    46 CFR 140.905(a)(2)“Of at least 100 gross tons and on a voyage between a port in the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean.”

  4. The Coast Guard furnishes the official logbook to masters of vessels of the United States without fee, as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending on the number of persons employed as crew.

    46 CFR 140.905(b)“The Coast Guard furnishes, without fee, to masters of vessels of the United States, the official logbook as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending on the number of persons employed as crew.”

  5. When a voyage is completed, or after a specified time has elapsed, the master must file the official logbook containing required entries with the cognizant OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be.

    46 CFR 140.905(c)“When a voyage is completed, or after a specified time has elapsed, the master must file the official logbook containing required entries with the cognizant OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be.”

Common questions

Does a towing vessel need an official logbook on a voyage to a foreign port?

Yes, if the vessel is a towing vessel of the United States on a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port. The exception is a voyage from a port in the United States to a port in Canada.

“On a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port; or”

Who provides the official logbook for a towing vessel?

The Coast Guard furnishes it to masters of vessels of the United States without fee. It comes as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending on the number of persons employed as crew.

“The Coast Guard furnishes, without fee, to masters of vessels of the United States, the official logbook as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending on the number of persons employed as crew.”

Who files the official logbook and where?

The master must file the official logbook containing required entries with the cognizant OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be. This happens when a voyage is completed, or after a specified time has elapsed.

“the master must file the official logbook containing required entries with the cognizant OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be.”

The text of 46 CFR 140.905

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

Official logbooks

(a) A towing vessel of the United States, except one on a voyage from a port in the United States to a port in Canada, is required by 46 U.S.C. 11301 to have an official logbook if the vessel is:

(1) On a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port; or

(2) Of at least 100 gross tons and on a voyage between a port in the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean.

(b) The Coast Guard furnishes, without fee, to masters of vessels of the United States, the official logbook as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending on the number of persons employed as crew. The first several pages of this logbook list various acts of Congress governing logbooks and the entries required in them.

(c) When a voyage is completed, or after a specified time has elapsed, the master must file the official logbook containing required entries with the cognizant OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be.

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.