46 CFR 143.460: Towing machinery design, safeguards and maintenance

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets rules for capstans, winches and other machinery that connect a towing vessel to its tow. The machinery must be designed and installed to maximize control of the tow and must be suitable for its intended service. A warning is required only at winches with potential for uncontrolled release under tension, and owners or managing operators must develop procedures to examine, maintain and replace the machinery.

Applies toTowing machinery such as capstans, winches, and other mechanical devices used to connect the towing vessel to the tow, and each owner or managing operator.

What it says

  1. Towing machinery such as capstans, winches, and other mechanical devices used to connect the towing vessel to the tow must be designed and installed to maximize control of the tow.

    46 CFR 143.460(a)“must be designed and installed to maximize control of the tow.”

  2. Towing machinery for towing astern must have sufficient safeguards, such as a towing bitt with crossbar, to prevent the machinery from becoming disabled if the tow becomes out of line.

    46 CFR 143.460(b)“Towing machinery for towing astern must have sufficient safeguards, e.g., towing bitt with crossbar, to prevent the machinery from becoming disabled in the event the tow becomes out of line.”

  3. Towing machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow must be suitable for its intended service.

    46 CFR 143.460(c)“Towing machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow must be suitable for its intended service.”

  4. The machinery must be capable of withstanding exposure to the marine environment, likely mechanical damage, static and dynamic loads expected during intended service, the towing vessel's horsepower, and arrangement of the tow.

    46 CFR 143.460(c)“It must be capable of withstanding exposure to the marine environment, likely mechanical damage, static and dynamic loads expected during intended service, the towing vessel's horsepower, and arrangement of the tow.”

  5. When a winch that has the potential for uncontrolled release under tension is used, a warning indicating this must be in place at the winch controls.

    46 CFR 143.460(d)“When a winch that has the potential for uncontrolled release under tension is used, a warning must be in place at the winch controls that indicates this.”

  6. When safeguards designed to prevent uncontrolled release are utilized, they must not be disabled.

    46 CFR 143.460(d)“When safeguards designed to prevent uncontrolled release are utilized, they must not be disabled.”

  7. Each owner or managing operator must develop procedures to routinely examine, maintain, and replace capstans, winches, and other machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow.

    46 CFR 143.460(e)“Each owner or managing operator must develop procedures to routinely examine, maintain, and replace capstans, winches, and other machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow.”

Common questions

Who must develop procedures for maintaining towing machinery?

Each owner or managing operator must develop procedures to routinely examine, maintain, and replace capstans, winches, and other machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow.

“Each owner or managing operator must develop procedures to routinely examine, maintain, and replace capstans, winches, and other machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow.”

When is a warning required at a towing winch?

A warning is required only when the winch used has the potential for uncontrolled release under tension. In that case, the warning must be in place at the winch controls and indicate this.

“When a winch that has the potential for uncontrolled release under tension is used, a warning must be in place at the winch controls that indicates this.”

What safeguards must towing machinery have for towing astern?

Towing machinery for towing astern must have sufficient safeguards, such as a towing bitt with crossbar, to prevent the machinery from becoming disabled if the tow becomes out of line.

“Towing machinery for towing astern must have sufficient safeguards, e.g., towing bitt with crossbar, to prevent the machinery from becoming disabled in the event the tow becomes out of line.”

The text of 46 CFR 143.460

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

Towing machinery

(a) Towing machinery such as capstans, winches, and other mechanical devices used to connect the towing vessel to the tow must be designed and installed to maximize control of the tow.

(b) Towing machinery for towing astern must have sufficient safeguards, e.g., towing bitt with crossbar, to prevent the machinery from becoming disabled in the event the tow becomes out of line.

(c) Towing machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow must be suitable for its intended service. It must be capable of withstanding exposure to the marine environment, likely mechanical damage, static and dynamic loads expected during intended service, the towing vessel's horsepower, and arrangement of the tow.

(d) When a winch that has the potential for uncontrolled release under tension is used, a warning must be in place at the winch controls that indicates this. When safeguards designed to prevent uncontrolled release are utilized, they must not be disabled.

(e) Each owner or managing operator must develop procedures to routinely examine, maintain, and replace capstans, winches, and other machinery used to connect the towing vessel to the tow.

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.