46 CFR 141.235: Lifesaving equipment inspection, testing, and maintenance
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers testing, maintenance, and record keeping for lifesaving equipment. All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained to the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS if it has one. Inspections and tests must be recorded with minimum information, and records must be kept.
What it says
All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained to the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS, if the vessel has a TSMS.
46 CFR 141.235(a)“All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS, if the vessel has a TSMS.”
Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, the official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel.
46 CFR 141.235(b)“Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
The record must include the dates of the inspections and tests, the number or other identification of each unit inspected and tested, the results, and the name of the crewmember, surveyor or auditor and any others conducting them.
46 CFR 141.235(b)(1)“The dates when inspections and tests were performed, the number or other identification of each unit inspected and tested, the results of the inspections and tests”
Receipts and other records documenting these inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI and made available upon request.
46 CFR 141.235(b)(2)“Receipts and other records documenting these inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI and made available upon request.”
Common questions
How long must lifesaving equipment inspection records be kept?
Receipts and other records documenting the inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI. They must be made available upon request.
“Receipts and other records documenting these inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI and made available upon request.”
Where do I record lifesaving equipment inspections and tests?
Inspections and tests must be recorded in the TVR, the official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel.
“Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel.”
What standard applies to testing and maintaining lifesaving equipment?
Lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained to the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS if it has one.
“All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS, if the vessel has a TSMS.”
The text of 46 CFR 141.235
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Inspection, testing, and maintenance
(a) All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable, and the vessel's TSMS, if the vessel has a TSMS.
(b) Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel. The following minimum information is required:
(1) The dates when inspections and tests were performed, the number or other identification of each unit inspected and tested, the results of the inspections and tests, and the name of the crewmember, surveyor or auditor and any others conducting the inspections and tests; and
(2) Receipts and other records documenting these inspections and tests must be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration of the COI and made available upon request.
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.