46 CFR 142.205: Alternate standards for fire safety compliance
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section lets towing vessels meet this part through alternate standards. A vessel in compliance with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS is deemed in compliance with this part. A vessel that meets other alternate standards deemed equivalent by the Commandant is also in compliance.
Applies toTowing vessels that comply with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS or with other alternate standards deemed by the Commandant to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance.
What it says
A towing vessel that complies with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS is deemed to be in compliance with this part.
46 CFR 142.205(a)“Towing vessels in compliance with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) will be deemed to be in compliance with this part.”
A towing vessel that complies with other alternate standards is in compliance with this part if the Commandant deems those standards to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance.
46 CFR 142.205(b)“Towing vessels that comply with other alternate standards, deemed by the Commandant to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance, will be in compliance with this part.”
Common questions
Does SOLAS compliance satisfy 46 CFR part 142 for towing vessels?
Yes. A towing vessel in compliance with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS is deemed to be in compliance with this part.
“Towing vessels in compliance with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) will be deemed to be in compliance with this part.”
Can a towing vessel use a standard other than SOLAS to comply with this part?
Yes, if the Commandant deems the alternate standards to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance. A vessel that complies with such standards will be in compliance with this part.
“Towing vessels that comply with other alternate standards, deemed by the Commandant to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance, will be in compliance with this part.”
The text of 46 CFR 142.205
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Alternate standards
(a) Towing vessels in compliance with Chapter II-2 of SOLAS (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) will be deemed to be in compliance with this part.
(b) Towing vessels that comply with other alternate standards, deemed by the Commandant to provide an equivalent level of safety and performance, will be in compliance with this part.
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.