46 CFR 15.705: Watch requirements for vessel crews

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section explains how the Coast Guard reads 46 U.S.C. 8104 on establishing watches aboard certain U.S. vessels. The Master is responsible for establishing adequate watches. It sets out watch divisions for seagoing vessels, towing vessels, offshore supply vessels, barges, fish processing vessels and uninspected passenger vessels.

Applies toCertain U.S. vessels covered by 46 U.S.C. 8104, including seagoing vessels of more than 100 GRT, towing vessels, offshore supply vessels, barges, fish processing vessels and uninspected passenger vessels of at least 100 GRT.

What it says

  1. The vessel's Master is responsible for establishing adequate watches.

    46 CFR 15.705(a)“The establishment of adequate watches is the responsibility of the vessel's Master.”

  2. The Coast Guard interprets a "watch" as the direct performance of vessel operations, deck or engine, routinely controlled and performed in a scheduled and fixed rotation.

    46 CFR 15.705(a)“The Coast Guard interprets the term “watch” to be the direct performance of vessel operations, whether deck or engine, where such operations would routinely be controlled and performed in a scheduled and fixed rotation.”

  3. Subject to exceptions, when the Master of a seagoing vessel of more than 100 GRT establishes watches for officers, sailors, and Oilers, the personnel must be divided into at least three watches when at sea.

    46 CFR 15.705(b)“the personnel shall be divided, when at sea, into at least three watches and shall be kept on duty successively to perform ordinary work incidental to the operation and management of the vessel.”

  4. Subject to exceptions, officers and crew members of a towing vessel, offshore supply vessel or barge may be divided into two watches when at sea on a voyage of less than 600 miles.

    46 CFR 15.705(c)(1)“permits the officers and crew members to be divided into two watches when at sea and engaged on a voyage of less than 600 miles on the following categories of vessels—”

  5. For an OSV of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned), the two-watch permission applies only if the individuals engaged on the vessel comply with the work hours and rest period requirements in § 15.1111.

    46 CFR 15.705(c)(2)“if the individuals engaged on the vessel are in compliance with the work hours and rest period requirements in § 15.1111.”

  6. Subject to exceptions, a Master or Mate (Pilot) of a towing vessel at least 8 meters (26 feet) long may work not more than 12 hours in a consecutive 24-hour period, except in an emergency.

    46 CFR 15.705(d)“to work not more than 12 hours in a consecutive 24-hour period except in an emergency.”

  7. A properly manned uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 GRT that is underway more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period must provide a minimum of a two-watch system.

    46 CFR 15.705(f)(2)“Which are underway more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, must provide a minimum of a two-watch system;”

  8. On these uninspected passenger vessels, the crew of any watch may not work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, except in an emergency.

    46 CFR 15.705(f)(3)“In no case may the crew of any watch work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, except in an emergency.”

Common questions

Who is responsible for establishing watches on a vessel?

The vessel's Master is responsible for establishing adequate watches.

“The establishment of adequate watches is the responsibility of the vessel's Master.”

Does daily maintenance count as a watch?

No. Maintenance or work necessary to the vessel's safe operation on a daily basis does not in itself constitute the establishment of a watch.

“The performance of maintenance or work necessary to the vessel's safe operation on a daily basis does not in itself constitute the establishment of a watch.”

Can an uninspected passenger vessel operate with one navigational watch?

Yes, if it is properly manned, is at least 100 GRT, is underway no more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, and is adequately secured in a harbor of safe refuge for the rest of that period.

“may operate with one navigational watch;”

Who counts as a sailor under this section?

Solely for purposes of this part, sailors are deck department members other than officers whose duties involve the mechanics of conducting the ship on its voyage and are necessary to maintaining a continuous watch. Able Seafarers and Ordinary Seafarers not performing these duties are not included.

“The term “sailors” is not interpreted to include Able Seafarers and Ordinary Seafarers not performing these duties.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.705

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

Watches

(a) 46 U.S.C. 8104 applies to the establishment of watches aboard certain U.S. vessels. The establishment of adequate watches is the responsibility of the vessel's Master. The Coast Guard interprets the term “watch” to be the direct performance of vessel operations, whether deck or engine, where such operations would routinely be controlled and performed in a scheduled and fixed rotation. The performance of maintenance or work necessary to the vessel's safe operation on a daily basis does not in itself constitute the establishment of a watch. The minimum safe manning levels specified in a vessel's COI or other safe manning document take into consideration routine maintenance requirements and ability of the crew to perform all operational evolutions, including emergencies, as well as those functions which may be assigned to persons in watches.

(b) Subject to exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8104 requires that when a Master of a seagoing vessel of more than 100 GRT establishes watches for the officers, sailors, and Oilers, “the personnel shall be divided, when at sea, into at least three watches and shall be kept on duty successively to perform ordinary work incidental to the operation and management of the vessel.” Solely for the purposes of this part, the Coast Guard interprets “sailors” to mean those members of the deck department other than officers, whose duties involve the mechanics of conducting the ship on its voyage, such as helmsman (wheelsman), lookout, etc., and which are necessary to the maintenance of a continuous watch. The term “sailors” is not interpreted to include Able Seafarers and Ordinary Seafarers not performing these duties.

(c)(1) Subject to exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8104(g) permits the officers and crew members to be divided into two watches when at sea and engaged on a voyage of less than 600 miles on the following categories of vessels—

(i) Towing vessel;

(ii) Offshore supply vessel, except as provided by paragraph (c)(2) of this section; or

(iii) Barge.

(2) Paragraph (c)(1) of this section applies to an OSV of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned), as defined in § 125.160 of this subchapter, if the individuals engaged on the vessel are in compliance with the work hours and rest period requirements in § 15.1111.

(d) Subject to exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8104(h) permits a Master or Mate (Pilot) operating a towing vessel that is at least 8 meters (26 feet) in length measured from end to end over the deck (excluding sheer) to work not more than 12 hours in a consecutive 24-hour period except in an emergency. The Coast Guard interprets this, in conjunction with other provisions of the law, to permit Masters or Mates (Pilots) serving as operators of towing vessels that are not subject to the provisions of the Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (see 46 U.S.C. 8304), to be divided into two watches regardless of the length of the voyage.

(e) Fish processing vessels are subject to various provisions of 46 U.S.C. 8104 concerning watches, including—

(1) For fish processing vessels that entered into service before January 1, 1988, the following watch requirements apply to the officers and deck crew:

(i) If more than 5,000 GRT—three watches.

(ii) If more than 1,600 GRT and not more than 5,000 GRT—two watches.

(iii) If not more than 1,600 GRT—no watch division specified; or

(2) For fish processing vessels that entered into service after December 31, 1987, the following watch requirements apply to the officers and deck crew:

(i) If more than 5,000 GRT—three watches.

(ii) If not more than 5,000 GRT and having more than 16 individuals onboard, primarily employed in the preparation of fish or fish products—two watches.

(iii) If not more than 5,000 GRT and having not more than 16 individuals onboard, primarily employed in the preparation of fish or fish products—no watch division specified.

(f) Properly manned uninspected passenger vessels of at least 100 GRT—

(1) Which are underway for no more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, and which are adequately moored, anchored, or otherwise secured in a harbor of safe refuge for the remainder of that 24-hour period, may operate with one navigational watch;

(2) Which are underway more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, must provide a minimum of a two-watch system;

(3) In no case may the crew of any watch work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, except in an emergency.

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.