46 CFR 15.405: Crew familiarity with vessel characteristics
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires each credentialed crewmember to become familiar with the vessel's relevant characteristics. The familiarity must be appropriate to their duties and responsibilities. It must come before they assume those duties and responsibilities.
Applies toEach credentialed crewmember.
What it says
Each credentialed crewmember must become familiar with the relevant characteristics of the vessel that are appropriate to their duties and responsibilities.
“Each credentialed crewmember must become familiar with the relevant characteristics of the vessel appropriate to their duties and responsibilities”
The crewmember must become familiar with these characteristics before assuming those duties and responsibilities.
“prior to assuming those duties and responsibilities”
As appropriate, the relevant characteristics may include, but are not limited to, the general arrangement of the vessel and its maneuvering characteristics.
“general arrangement of the vessel, maneuvering characteristics, proper operation of the installed navigation equipment”
As appropriate, the characteristics may also include proper operation of firefighting and lifesaving equipment, and stability and loading characteristics.
“proper operation of firefighting and lifesaving equipment, stability and loading characteristics, emergency duties”
As appropriate, the characteristics may include main propulsion and auxiliary machinery, including steering gear systems and controls.
“main propulsion and auxiliary machinery, including steering gear systems and controls”
Common questions
Who must become familiar with vessel characteristics?
Each credentialed crewmember must become familiar with the relevant characteristics of the vessel appropriate to their duties and responsibilities.
“Each credentialed crewmember must become familiar with the relevant characteristics of the vessel appropriate to their duties and responsibilities”
When must a crewmember learn the vessel's characteristics?
The crewmember must do so before assuming their duties and responsibilities.
“prior to assuming those duties and responsibilities”
Does the list of vessel characteristics limit what a crewmember must learn?
No. The listed items are examples that may apply as appropriate, and the text says they are not limited to those listed.
“As appropriate, these may include, but are not limited to, general arrangement of the vessel”
The text of 46 CFR 15.405
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Familiarity with vessel characteristics
Each credentialed crewmember must become familiar with the relevant characteristics of the vessel appropriate to their duties and responsibilities prior to assuming those duties and responsibilities. As appropriate, these may include, but are not limited to, general arrangement of the vessel, maneuvering characteristics, proper operation of the installed navigation equipment, proper operation of firefighting and lifesaving equipment, stability and loading characteristics, emergency duties, and main propulsion and auxiliary machinery, including steering gear systems and controls.
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.