46 CFR 15.730: Crew language requirements on vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section explains how the language provisions of 46 U.S.C. 8702 apply generally to vessels of at least 100 GRT. On vessels departing U.S. ports, 75 percent of the crew in each department must be able to understand any order spoken by the officers. It also lists exceptions and describes how the Coast Guard investigates and tests compliance.

Applies toVessels of at least 100 GRT, generally, except those listed in paragraph (a), some of which are excepted only for certain personnel.

What it says

  1. The language provisions of 46 U.S.C. 8702 apply generally to vessels of at least 100 GRT, except for the vessels and personnel listed in paragraph (a).

    46 CFR 15.730(a)“The provisions of 46 U.S.C. 8702 relating to language apply generally to vessels of at least 100 GRT except:”

  2. Vessels operating on rivers and lakes are excepted from the language provisions, but this exception does not cover vessels on the Great Lakes.

    46 CFR 15.730(a)(1)“Vessels operating on rivers and lakes except the Great Lakes;”

  3. On vessels departing U.S. ports, 75 percent of the crew in each department must be able to understand any order spoken by the officers.

    46 CFR 15.730(b)“requires that onboard vessels departing U.S. ports 75 percent of the crew in each department onboard is able to understand any order spoken by the officers.”

  4. A deck department member is not expected to understand terminology normally used only in the engineroom, and the reverse also holds.

    46 CFR 15.730(c)“It is not expected that a member of the deck department understand terminology normally used only in the engineroom or vice versa.”

  5. When the Coast Guard receives information that a vessel fails to comply with the language requirements, it investigates the allegation to determine its validity.

    46 CFR 15.730(d)“Whenever information is provided to the Coast Guard that a vessel fails to comply with the specified language requirements the Coast Guard investigates the allegation to determine its validity.”

  6. In a Coast Guard language test, officers must speak orders directly to the crew member, not through an interpreter, and signs, gestures, or signals may not be used.

    46 CFR 15.730(d)“The orders must be spoken directly by the officer to the crew member and not through an interpreter. Signs, gestures, or signals may not be used in the test.”

  7. The Coast Guard representative specifies the orders to be given, including daily routine orders and emergency orders.

    46 CFR 15.730(d)“The Coast Guard representative will specify the orders to be given and will include not only daily routine but orders involving emergencies”

Common questions

How many crew must understand the officers' orders?

On vessels departing U.S. ports, 75 percent of the crew in each department must be able to understand any order spoken by the officers.

“requires that onboard vessels departing U.S. ports 75 percent of the crew in each department onboard is able to understand any order spoken by the officers.”

Can an interpreter be used in a Coast Guard language test?

No. The officer must speak orders directly to the crew member and not through an interpreter.

“The orders must be spoken directly by the officer to the crew member and not through an interpreter.”

Do the language rules apply to fishing vessels?

No. A fishing vessel, fish tender vessel, whaling vessel, or yacht is excepted from the language provisions.

“A fishing vessel, fish tender vessel, whaling vessel, or yacht;”

When does the Coast Guard conduct the language test?

If possible, the test is conducted reasonably in advance of the vessel's departure, to avoid delays.

“This test will be conducted, if possible, at a time reasonably in advance of the vessel's departure, to avoid delays.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.730

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

Language requirements

(a) The provisions of 46 U.S.C. 8702 relating to language apply generally to vessels of at least 100 GRT except:

(1) Vessels operating on rivers and lakes except the Great Lakes;

(2) A manned barge except a seagoing barge or a barge to which chapter 37 of 46 U.S.C. applies;

(3) A fishing vessel, fish tender vessel, whaling vessel, or yacht;

(4) A sailing school vessel with respect to sailing school instructors and sailing school students;

(5) An oceanographic research vessel with respect to scientific personnel;

(6) A fish processing vessel which entered into service before January 1, 1988, and is not more than 1,600 GRT or which entered into service after December 31, 1987, and has not more than 16 individuals onboard primarily employed in the preparation of fish or fish products; and

(7) All fish processing vessels with respect to those personnel primarily employed in the preparation of fish or fish products or in a support position not related to navigation.

(b) 46 U.S.C. 8702(b) requires that onboard vessels departing U.S. ports 75 percent of the crew in each department onboard is able to understand any order spoken by the officers.

(c) The words able to understand any order spoken by the officers relates to any order to a member of the crew when directing the performance of that person's duties and orders relating to emergency situations such as used for response to a fire or in using lifesaving equipment. It is not expected that a member of the deck department understand terminology normally used only in the engineroom or vice versa.

(d) Whenever information is provided to the Coast Guard that a vessel fails to comply with the specified language requirements the Coast Guard investigates the allegation to determine its validity. In determining if an allegation is factual, the Coast Guard may require a demonstration by the officers and crew that appropriate orders are understood. The demonstration will require that orders be spoken to the individual members of the crew by the officers in the language ordinarily and customarily used by the officers. The orders must be spoken directly by the officer to the crew member and not through an interpreter. Signs, gestures, or signals may not be used in the test. The Coast Guard representative will specify the orders to be given and will include not only daily routine but orders involving emergencies, either of a departmental or of a general nature. This test will be conducted, if possible, at a time reasonably in advance of the vessel's departure, to avoid delays.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 U.S.C. 8702

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.