46 CFR 140.915: Items to be recorded in towing vessel records
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section lists ten items that must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel. It also sets rules for electronic entries and for correcting errors. A note says statutory and other requirements outside this subchapter still apply.
What it says
The listed items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
46 CFR 140.915(a)“The following list of items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel:”
Personnel records must be recorded, in accordance with § 140.400.
46 CFR 140.915(a)(1)“Personnel records, in accordance with § 140.400;”
Records of drills and instruction must be recorded, in accordance with § 140.420.
46 CFR 140.915(a)(3)“Record of drills and instruction, in accordance with § 140.420;”
Oil residue discharges and disposals must be recorded, in accordance with § 140.655.
46 CFR 140.915(a)(8)“Oil residue discharges and disposals, in accordance with § 140.655;”
Fire-detection and fixed fire-extinguishing items must be recorded, in accordance with § 142.240.
46 CFR 140.915(a)(10)“Fire-detection and fixed fire-extinguishing, in accordance with § 142.240.”
For the purposes of this subchapter, electronic entries in a TVR or other record specified by the TSMS must include the date and time of entry and the name of the person making the entry.
46 CFR 140.915(b)“these electronic entries must include the date and time of entry and name of the person making the entry.”
Entries that correct an error must include the date and time and the name of the person correcting, and must preserve a record of the original entry being corrected.
46 CFR 140.915(b)“any entries to correct the error must include the date and time of entry and name of the person making the correction and must preserve a record of the original entry being corrected.”
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TPO audit coming? What your Towing Vessel Record has to show
Ten items go in the Towing Vessel Record, the official logbook or your TSMS, from personnel records to fire detection and fixed extinguishing records (46 CFR 140.915).
Common questions
Where must towing vessel records be kept?
The listed items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel.
“The following list of items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel:”
What must an electronic towing vessel record entry include?
Electronic entries must include the date and time of entry and the name of the person making the entry.
“these electronic entries must include the date and time of entry and name of the person making the entry.”
Does this section change oil record book requirements?
No. The note says this section does not change requirements outside this subchapter, such as the oil record book entries in 33 CFR 151.25.
“Regarding requirements outside this subchapter, such as requirements in 33 CFR 151.25 to make entries in an oil record book, § 140.915 does not change those requirements.”
The text of 46 CFR 140.915
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Items to be recorded
(a) The following list of items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel:
(1) Personnel records, in accordance with § 140.400;
(2) Safety orientation, in accordance with § 140.410;
(3) Record of drills and instruction, in accordance with § 140.420;
(4) Examinations and tests, in accordance with § 140.615;
(5) Operative navigational safety equipment, in accordance with § 140.620;
(6) Navigation assessment, in accordance with § 140.635;
(7) Navigation safety training, in accordance with § 140.645;
(8) Oil residue discharges and disposals, in accordance with § 140.655;
(9) Record of inspection of towing gear, in accordance with § 140.820; and
(10) Fire-detection and fixed fire-extinguishing, in accordance with § 142.240.
(b) For the purposes of this subchapter, if items are recorded electronically in a TVR or other record as specified by the TSMS applicable to the towing vessel, these electronic entries must include the date and time of entry and name of the person making the entry. If after an entry has been made, someone responsible for entries determines there is an error in an entry, any entries to correct the error must include the date and time of entry and name of the person making the correction and must preserve a record of the original entry being corrected.
Note to § 140.915. For towing vessels subject to 46 U.S.C. 11301, there are statutory requirements in that U.S. Code section for additional items that must be entered in the official logbook. Regarding requirements outside this subchapter, such as requirements in 33 CFR 151.25 to make entries in an oil record book, § 140.915 does not change those requirements.
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.