46 CFR 163.003-1: Scope of pilot ladder standards

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the scope of the subpart on pilot ladders. The subpart contains standards and approval and production tests for pilot ladders used on merchant vessels. Its requirements apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.

Applies toThis section applies to a pilot ladder used on a merchant vessel to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock.

What it says

  1. This subpart contains standards and approval and production tests for a pilot ladder.

    46 CFR 163.003-1(a)“This subpart contains standards and approval and production tests for a pilot ladder”

  2. The pilot ladder covered is one used on a merchant vessel to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock.

    46 CFR 163.003-1(a)“used on a merchant vessel to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock”

  3. The requirements in this subpart apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.

    46 CFR 163.003-1(b)“The requirements in this subpart apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.”

Common questions

What does the pilot ladder subpart cover?

It contains standards and approval and production tests for a pilot ladder used on a merchant vessel. The ladder is used to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock.

“This subpart contains standards and approval and production tests for a pilot ladder used on a merchant vessel to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock.”

Which pilot ladders do the requirements apply to?

The requirements apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.

“The requirements in this subpart apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.”

The text of 46 CFR 163.003-1

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

Scope

(a) This subpart contains standards and approval and production tests for a pilot ladder used on a merchant vessel to embark and disembark pilots and other persons when away from the dock.

(b) The requirements in this subpart apply to a pilot ladder designed for use along a vertical portion of a vessel's hull.

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.