46 CFR 143.225: Thrust and rudder control and monitoring

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers control and monitoring equipment at the operating stations of a towing vessel. Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust. A towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must also have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s).

Applies toEach towing vessel, with paragraph (b) applying only to a towing vessel equipped with rudder(s).

What it says

  1. Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and, if applicable, direction of thrust, at each operating station.

    46 CFR 143.225(a)“Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust, at each operating station.”

  2. Direction of thrust must be monitored and controlled only if it is applicable to the vessel.

    46 CFR 143.225(a)“Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust, at each operating station.”

  3. Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station.

    46 CFR 143.225(b)“Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station.”

Common questions

What must a towing vessel be able to monitor and control at each operating station?

A towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and, if applicable, direction of thrust at each operating station.

“Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust, at each operating station.”

Do towing vessels with rudders have extra control requirements?

Yes. Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station.

“Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station.”

The text of 46 CFR 143.225

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

Control and monitoring requirements

(a) Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust, at each operating station.

(b) Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station.

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.