46 CFR 143.235: General alarms on towing vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets requirements for general alarms on towing vessels. Each towing vessel must have a general alarm activated at each operating station that can notify persons onboard in an emergency. Excepted vessels are exempt.
Applies toTowing vessels, except an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter.
What it says
This section does not apply to an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter.
46 CFR 143.235(a)“This section does not apply to an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter.”
Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm.
46 CFR 143.235(b)“Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that:”
The general alarm must be activated at each operating station and must be able to notify persons onboard in an emergency.
46 CFR 143.235(b)(1)“Is activated at each operating station and can notify persons onboard in the event of an emergency;”
The general alarm must be capable of notifying persons in any accommodation, work space, and the engine room.
46 CFR 143.235(b)(2)“Is capable of notifying persons in any accommodation, work space, and the engine room;”
The engine room and any other area where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear must have a supplemental flashing red light with the required sign.
46 CFR 143.235(b)(3)“Has installed, in the engine room and any other area where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear, a supplemental flashing red light”
A public-address (PA) system or other means of alerting all persons on the towing vessel may be used instead of the general alarm if it meets the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) and (3).
46 CFR 143.235(b)(4)“A public-address (PA) system or other means of alerting all persons on the towing vessel may be used in lieu of the general alarm”
Common questions
Does a towing vessel need a general alarm?
Yes. Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm, unless it is an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter.
“Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that:”
What must the flashing red light sign say?
The sign must read: "Attention General Alarm—When Alarm Sounds or Flashes Go to Your Station".
“identified with a sign that reads: “Attention General Alarm—When Alarm Sounds or Flashes Go to Your Station”;”
Can a PA system replace the general alarm on a towing vessel?
Yes. A PA system or other means of alerting all persons may be used in lieu of the general alarm if it meets the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) and (3).
“if the system meets the requirements of paragrahs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.”
The text of 46 CFR 143.235
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
General alarms
(a) This section does not apply to an excepted vessel as defined in § 136.110 of this subchapter.
(b) Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that:
(1) Is activated at each operating station and can notify persons onboard in the event of an emergency;
(2) Is capable of notifying persons in any accommodation, work space, and the engine room;
(3) Has installed, in the engine room and any other area where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear, a supplemental flashing red light that is identified with a sign that reads: “Attention General Alarm—When Alarm Sounds or Flashes Go to Your Station”; and
(4) A public-address (PA) system or other means of alerting all persons on the towing vessel may be used in lieu of the general alarm in paragraph (b) of this section if the system meets the requirements of paragrahs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.
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.