46 CFR 141.200: General lifesaving equipment provisions for towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets general rules for lifesaving equipment on towing vessels. Required equipment must be approved by the Commandant unless otherwise specified. Equipment requirements follow the area of operation, but the vessel must meet its certificated route requirements at certification.

Applies toTowing vessels and the lifesaving equipment required under this part.

What it says

  1. Unless otherwise specified, all lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section.

    46 CFR 141.200(a)“Unless otherwise specified, all lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section.”

  2. Lifesaving equipment for personal use that this part does not require need not be approved by the Commandant.

    46 CFR 141.200(a)“Lifesaving equipment for personal use which is not required by this part need not be approved by the Commandant.”

  3. A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment.

    46 CFR 141.200(b)“A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment.”

  4. Each cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) may be contacted for information about approved equipment and materials.

    46 CFR 141.200(b)“Each cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) may be contacted for information concerning approved equipment and materials.”

  5. Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated.

    46 CFR 141.200(c)“Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated.”

  6. However, the towing vessel must be equipped per the requirements of its certificated route at the time of certification.

    46 CFR 141.200(c)“However, the towing vessel must be equipped per the requirements of its certificated route at the time of certification.”

Common questions

Does lifesaving equipment on a towing vessel have to be approved?

Unless otherwise specified, required lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section. Personal-use equipment that this part does not require need not be approved.

“Unless otherwise specified, all lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section.”

Where can I find a list of approved lifesaving equipment?

A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment. The cognizant OCMI may also be contacted for information.

“A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment.”

Are towing vessel equipment requirements based on the operating area or the certificated route?

They are based on the area in which the vessel is operating, not the certificated route. However, the vessel must be equipped per its certificated route requirements at the time of certification.

“Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated.”

The text of 46 CFR 141.200

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

General provisions

(a) Unless otherwise specified, all lifesaving equipment must be approved by the Commandant under the approval series specified in each section. Lifesaving equipment for personal use which is not required by this part need not be approved by the Commandant.

(b) A listing of approved equipment and materials may be found at https://cgmix.uscg.mil/equipment. Each cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) may be contacted for information concerning approved equipment and materials.

(c) Equipment requirements are based on the area in which a towing vessel is operating, not the route for which it is certificated. However, the towing vessel must be equipped per the requirements of its certificated route at the time of certification.

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.