46 CFR 142.245: Fire-fighting drills and crew training
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets fire-fighting training rules for crews of towing vessels. The master must ensure each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month. A crewmember who has not participated in the drills and received the instruction must receive a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.
Applies toMasters and crewmembers of towing vessels.
What it says
The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month.
46 CFR 142.245(a)“The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month.”
The instruction may coincide with the drills, but it is not required to do so.
46 CFR 142.245(a)“The instruction may coincide with the drills, but is not required to do so.”
Video training followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with the contingencies listed in paragraph (a) is an acceptable alternative form of instruction. It may occur onboard or off the towing vessel.
46 CFR 142.245(b)“Video training, followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with the contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section, is an acceptable, alternative form of instruction.”
Drills must take place onboard the towing vessel as if there were an actual emergency.
46 CFR 142.245(c)“Drills must take place onboard the towing vessel as if there were an actual emergency.”
Drills must include testing of all alarm and detection systems by operation of the test switch or by activation of one or more devices.
46 CFR 142.245(c)(3)“Testing of all alarm and detection systems by operation of the test switch or by activation of one or more devices;”
The master must ensure that each crewmember who has not participated in the required drills and received the required instruction receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.
46 CFR 142.245(d)“receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.”
Common questions
How often must towing vessel crews do fire drills?
Each crewmember must participate in fire-fighting drills and receive instruction at least once each month. The master must ensure this happens.
“The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month.”
Can video training be used for fire-fighting instruction on a towing vessel?
Yes. Video training followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with the contingencies in paragraph (a) is acceptable, onboard or off the vessel.
“This instruction may occur either onboard or off the towing vessel.”
Who must get a safety orientation on a towing vessel?
Each crewmember who has not participated in the drills and received the instruction must receive a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty. It must cover the contingencies listed in paragraph (a).
“The safety orientation must cover the particular contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section.”
Where are fire training records requirements found?
The note to this section sends the reader to § 140.915 for requirements for keeping records of training.
“See § 140.915 for requirements for keeping records of training.”
The text of 46 CFR 142.245
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Requirements for training crews to respond to fires
(a) Drills and instruction. The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month. The instruction may coincide with the drills, but is not required to do so. All crewmembers must be familiar with their fire-fighting duties, and, specifically how to:
(1) Fight a fire in the engine room and elsewhere onboard the towing vessel, including how to:
(i) Operate all of the fire-extinguishing equipment onboard the towing vessel;
(ii) Stop any mechanical ventilation system for the engine room and effectively seal all natural openings to the space to prevent leakage of the extinguishing agent; and
(iii) Operate the fuel shut-off(s) for the engine room.
(2) Activate the general alarm;
(3) Report inoperative alarm systems and fire-detection systems; and
(4) Don a firefighter's outfit and a self-contained breathing apparatus, if the vessel is so equipped.
(b) Alternative form of instruction. Video training, followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with the contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section, is an acceptable, alternative form of instruction. This instruction may occur either onboard or off the towing vessel.
(c) Participation in drills. Drills must take place onboard the towing vessel as if there were an actual emergency. They must include:
(1) Participation by all crewmembers;
(2) Breaking out and using, or simulating the use of, emergency equipment;
(3) Testing of all alarm and detection systems by operation of the test switch or by activation of one or more devices;
(4) Putting on protective clothing by at least one person, if the towing vessel is so equipped; and
(5) Functionally testing the self-priming capability of the portable fire pump, if the towing vessel is so equipped.
(d) Safety orientation. The master must ensure that each crewmember who has not participated in the drills required by paragraph (a) of this section and received the instruction required by that paragraph (a) receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty. The safety orientation must cover the particular contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section.
Note to § 142.245. See § 140.915 for requirements for keeping records of training.
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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.