46 CFR 185.520: Abandon ship and man overboard drills
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires the master to conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient instructions so crew members know their emergency duties. It sets what an abandon ship drill must include, how often rescue boats and davit launched liferafts are exercised, and what the drill log must show.
What it says
The master must conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient instructions to make sure all crew members are familiar with their duties during emergencies that necessitate abandoning ship or the recovery of persons who have fallen overboard.
46 CFR 185.520(a)“The master shall conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient instructions to make sure that all crew members are familiar with their duties during emergencies”
Each abandon ship drill must include summoning the crew to report to assigned stations and prepare for assigned duties.
46 CFR 185.520(b)(1)“Summoning the crew to report to assigned stations and prepare for assigned duties;”
Each abandon ship drill must include summoning passengers to muster stations or embarkation stations, and ensuring they know how the order to abandon ship will be given, but only on a vessel on an overnight voyage.
46 CFR 185.520(b)(2)“Summoning passengers on a vessel on an overnight voyage to muster stations or embarkation stations and ensuring that they are made aware of how the order to abandon ship will be given;”
Each abandon ship drill must, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.
46 CFR 185.520(c)“Each abandon ship drill must, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.”
Each rescue boat required in accordance with § 180.210 of this chapter must be launched with its assigned crew aboard and maneuvered in the water as if during an actual man overboard situation.
46 CFR 185.520(d)“must be launched with its assigned crew aboard and maneuvered in the water as if during an actual man overboard situation:”
The rescue boat launch must happen at least once within a 3 month period before the vessel gets underway with passengers, and once each month if reasonable and practicable.
46 CFR 185.520(d)(2)“At least once within a 3 month period before the vessel gets underway with passengers.”
Onboard training in the use of davit launched liferafts must take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a davit launched liferaft.
46 CFR 185.520(e)“Onboard training in the use of davit launched liferafts must take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a davit launched liferaft.”
Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training shall be logged or otherwise documented for Coast Guard review upon request. Each entry must include the date and a general description of the drill scenario and training topics.
46 CFR 185.520(f)(2)“General description of the drill scenario and training topics.”
Common questions
What must an abandon ship drill include?
Each drill must include checking that life jackets are correctly donned, among other listed items such as summoning the crew and instruction on deploying survival craft. Summoning passengers applies only on a vessel on an overnight voyage, and davit operation applies only to davits used for launching liferafts.
“Checking that life jackets are correctly donned;”
How often must rescue boats be launched for drills?
Each required rescue boat must be launched with its assigned crew aboard once each month, if reasonable and practicable. It must be launched at least once within a 3 month period before the vessel gets underway with passengers.
“Once each month, if reasonable and practicable; but”
How often is davit launched liferaft training required?
Onboard training must take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a davit launched liferaft.
“Onboard training in the use of davit launched liferafts must take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a davit launched liferaft.”
What must be recorded in the drill log?
The drill entry must include the date of the drill and training and a general description of the drill scenario and training topics.
“Date of the drill and training; and”
The text of 46 CFR 185.520
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training
(a) The master shall conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient instructions to make sure that all crew members are familiar with their duties during emergencies that necessitate abandoning ship or the recovery of persons who have fallen overboard.
(b) Each abandon ship drill must include:
(1) Summoning the crew to report to assigned stations and prepare for assigned duties;
(2) Summoning passengers on a vessel on an overnight voyage to muster stations or embarkation stations and ensuring that they are made aware of how the order to abandon ship will be given;
(3) Checking that life jackets are correctly donned;
(4) Operation of any davits used for launching liferafts; and
(5) Instruction on the automatic and manual deployment of survival craft.
(c) Each abandon ship drill must, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.
(d) Each rescue boat required in accordance with § 180.210 of this chapter must be launched with its assigned crew aboard and maneuvered in the water as if during an actual man overboard situation:
(1) Once each month, if reasonable and practicable; but
(2) At least once within a 3 month period before the vessel gets underway with passengers.
(e) Onboard training in the use of davit launched liferafts must take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a davit launched liferaft.
(f) Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training shall be logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry shall include the following information:
(1) Date of the drill and training; and
(2) General description of the drill scenario and training topics.
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.