46 CFR 141.380: EPIRB requirements for towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section requires certain towing vessels to carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite EPIRB. The EPIRB must be stowed float-free and set for automatic activation while the vessel is underway. It must be marked with the vessel's name, and valid proof of registration must be maintained.

Applies toEach towing vessel operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes.

What it says

  1. Each towing vessel operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite EPIRB that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80.

    46 CFR 141.380(a)“must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80”

  2. When the towing vessel is underway, the EPIRB must be stowed in its float-free bracket with the controls set for automatic activation.

    46 CFR 141.380(b)“the EPIRB must be stowed in its float-free bracket with the controls set for automatic activation”

  3. The EPIRB must be mounted so that it will float free if the towing vessel sinks.

    46 CFR 141.380(b)“be mounted in a manner so that it will float free if the towing vessel sinks”

  4. The name of the towing vessel must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.

    46 CFR 141.380(c)“The name of the towing vessel must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.”

  5. The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.

    46 CFR 141.380(d)“The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.”

Common questions

What kind of EPIRB must a towing vessel carry?

A towing vessel operating on the routes listed in paragraph (a) must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite EPIRB that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80.

“must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80”

Does the vessel name have to be on the EPIRB?

Yes. The vessel name must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.

“The name of the towing vessel must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.”

Who must keep EPIRB registration proof?

The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.

“The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.”

The text of 46 CFR 141.380

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

Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

(a) Each towing vessel operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80.

(b) When the towing vessel is underway, the EPIRB must be stowed in its float-free bracket with the controls set for automatic activation and be mounted in a manner so that it will float free if the towing vessel sinks.

(c) The name of the towing vessel must be marked or painted in clearly legible letters on each EPIRB, except on an EPIRB in an inflatable liferaft.

(d) The owner or managing operator must maintain valid proof of registration.

Note to paragraph (d). Registration information can be found at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/.

Sections it refers to

  • 47 CFR part 80

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.