46 CFR 144.160: Marking of towing vessel hulls and spaces

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out what marks a vessel must carry. It covers hull marking, draft marks, load line marks, and warning signs on watertight doors, watertight hatches, escape hatches and emergency exits.

Applies toThe text applies to documented vessels, undocumented vessels, vessels complying with § 144.300(a) or § 144.305, and vessels assigned a load line.

What it says

  1. The hull of each documented vessel must be marked as required by part 67 of this chapter.

    46 CFR 144.160(a)“The hull of each documented vessel must be marked as required by part 67 of this chapter.”

  2. The hull of each undocumented vessel must be marked with its name and hailing port.

    46 CFR 144.160(b)“The hull of each undocumented vessel must be marked with its name and hailing port.”

  3. A vessel complying with either § 144.300(a) or § 144.305 must have draft marks that meet § 97.40-10 of this chapter.

    46 CFR 144.160(c)“A vessel complying with either § 144.300(a) or § 144.305 must have draft marks that meet the requirements of § 97.40-10 of this chapter.”

  4. Each vessel assigned a load line must have the load line marks and the deck line permanently scribed or embossed as required by subchapter E of this chapter.

    46 CFR 144.160(d)“Each vessel assigned a load line must have the load line marks and the deck line permanently scribed or embossed as required by subchapter E of this chapter.”

  5. Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high, reading "WATERTIGHT DOOR—KEEP CLOSED" or "WATERTIGHT HATCH—KEEP CLOSED".

    46 CFR 144.160(e)“Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high:”

  6. Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high, reading "EMERGENCY EXIT, KEEP CLEAR".

    46 CFR 144.160(f)“Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high:”

Common questions

What must be marked on the hull of an undocumented vessel?

The hull of each undocumented vessel must be marked with its name and hailing port.

“The hull of each undocumented vessel must be marked with its name and hailing port.”

How high must the letters be on a watertight door marking?

The letters must be clearly legible and at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high. They must appear on both sides of each watertight door and watertight hatch.

“Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high:”

What must emergency exits and escape hatches say?

Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides with "EMERGENCY EXIT, KEEP CLEAR". The letters must be at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high.

“Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high:”

The text of 46 CFR 144.160

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

Marking

(a) The hull of each documented vessel must be marked as required by part 67 of this chapter.

(b) The hull of each undocumented vessel must be marked with its name and hailing port.

(c) A vessel complying with either § 144.300(a) or § 144.305 must have draft marks that meet the requirements of § 97.40-10 of this chapter.

(d) Each vessel assigned a load line must have the load line marks and the deck line permanently scribed or embossed as required by subchapter E of this chapter.

(e) Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high: “WATERTIGHT DOOR—KEEP CLOSED” or “WATERTIGHT HATCH—KEEP CLOSED”.

(f) Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high: “EMERGENCY EXIT, KEEP CLEAR”.

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.