46 CFR 141.350: Immersion suits on towing vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets immersion suit requirements for towing vessels operating north of lat. 32° N. or south of lat. 32° S. Each such vessel must carry an appropriate-size suit for each person onboard, plus extra suits at certain stations and sites. A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry them.
Applies toTowing vessels operating north of lat. 32° N. or south of lat. 32° S., except those operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area.
What it says
Except for vessels operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area, each towing vessel operating in those regions must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(1)“must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard”
Each watch station, work station, and industrial work site must have enough additional immersion suits to equal the number of persons normally on watch in, or assigned to, the station or site at one time.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(2)“each watch station, work station, and industrial work site must have enough immersion suits to equal the number of persons normally on watch in, or assigned to, the station or site at one time”
A station or site does not need a suit for a person whose cabin or berthing area, and the immersion suits stowed there, is readily accessible to the station or site.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(2)“an immersion suit is not required at a station or site for a person whose cabin or berthing area (and the immersion suits stowed in that location) is readily accessible to the station or site”
Where a towing vessel uses alternative means to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, it must have at least one immersion suit of the appropriate size for each person onboard.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(3)“Where alternative means are used to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, there must be at least one immersion suit of the appropriate size for each person onboard.”
Any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of immersion suits so they are immediately accessible at normally occupied spaces, including but not limited to accommodation spaces and watch stations.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(3)“Any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of immersion suits in such a manner as to facilitate immediate accessibility at normally occupied spaces”
A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.
46 CFR 141.350(a)(4)“A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.”
Immersion suits carried on towing vessels must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.
46 CFR 141.350(b)“Immersion suits carried on towing vessels must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.”
Common questions
Do towing vessels on rivers need immersion suits?
No. A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.
“A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.”
How many immersion suits must a towing vessel carry?
A towing vessel in the covered regions must carry at least one appropriate-size approved suit for each person onboard. Watch stations, work stations, and industrial work sites need additional suits as paragraph (a)(2) describes.
“must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard”
What standards must towing vessel immersion suits meet?
They must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.
“Immersion suits carried on towing vessels must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.”
The text of 46 CFR 141.350
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Immersion suits
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, each towing vessel operating north of lat. 32° N. or south of lat. 32° S. must carry the number of immersion suits as prescribed in this paragraph (a):
(1) Each towing vessel operating in those regions must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard.
(2) In addition to the immersion suits required under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, each watch station, work station, and industrial work site must have enough immersion suits to equal the number of persons normally on watch in, or assigned to, the station or site at one time. However, an immersion suit is not required at a station or site for a person whose cabin or berthing area (and the immersion suits stowed in that location) is readily accessible to the station or site.
(3) Where alternative means are used to meet the requirements of this section, as permitted by § 141.225, there must be at least one immersion suit of the appropriate size for each person onboard. Any TSMS applicable to the towing vessel must specify the number and location of immersion suits in such a manner as to facilitate immediate accessibility at normally occupied spaces including, but not limited to, accommodation spaces and watch stations.
(4) A towing vessel operating on rivers or in a limited geographic area is not required to carry immersion suits.
(b) Immersion suits carried on towing vessels must meet the requirements of § 199.70(c) and (d) of this chapter.
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.