46 CFR 143.415: Navigation lights on towing vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the standard for navigation lights on towing vessels. Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use lights that meet UL 1104 or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard. Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length have an additional option under 33 CFR 183.810.

Applies toTowing vessels, with different options depending on whether the vessel is more than 65 feet in length or 65 feet or less in length.

What it says

  1. Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use navigation lights that meet UL 1104 or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard.

    46 CFR 143.415(a)“Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use navigation lights that meet UL 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard.”

  2. UL 1104 is incorporated by reference, and the text sends the reader to § 136.112 of this subchapter for that.

    46 CFR 143.415(a)“UL 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter)”

  3. Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length may meet the requirements listed in 33 CFR 183.810 or the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

    46 CFR 143.415(b)“Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length may meet the requirements listed in 33 CFR 183.810 or paragraph (a) of this section.”

Common questions

What standard must navigation lights meet on a towing vessel over 65 feet?

Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use lights that meet UL 1104 or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard.

“Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use navigation lights that meet UL 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard.”

What navigation light rules apply to towing vessels 65 feet or less?

Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length may meet the requirements listed in 33 CFR 183.810 or paragraph (a) of this section.

“Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length may meet the requirements listed in 33 CFR 183.810 or paragraph (a) of this section.”

The text of 46 CFR 143.415

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

Navigation lights

(a) Towing vessels more than 65 feet in length must use navigation lights that meet UL 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter) or other standards accepted by the Coast Guard.

(b) Towing vessels 65 feet or less in length may meet the requirements listed in 33 CFR 183.810 or paragraph (a) 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.