46 CFR 196.34-10: Use of approved buoyant work vests
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers approved buoyant work vests, which are items of safety apparel. Crew members may wear them when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions. They may not replace required approved life preservers.
Applies toApproved buoyant work vests carried aboard vessels for crew members working near or over the water.
What it says
Approved buoyant work vests are items of safety apparel that may be carried aboard vessels for crew members to wear when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions.
46 CFR 196.34-10(a)“Approved buoyant work vests are considered to be items of safety apparel and may be carried aboard vessels to be worn by crew members when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions.”
Designated ship's officers must supervise and control the use of the vests.
46 CFR 196.34-10(a)“They shall be used under the supervision and control of designated ship's officers.”
When carried, the vests must not be accepted in place of any portion of the required number of approved life preservers.
46 CFR 196.34-10(a)“When carried, such vests shall not be accepted in lieu of any portion of the required number of approved life preservers”
The vests must not be substituted for the approved life preservers required to be worn during drills and emergencies.
46 CFR 196.34-10(a)“shall not be substituted for the approved life preservers required to be worn during drills and emergencies.”
Common questions
Can crew wear buoyant work vests when working over the water?
Yes. Approved buoyant work vests may be carried for crew members to wear when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions.
“may be carried aboard vessels to be worn by crew members when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions.”
Can a buoyant work vest count as a required life preserver?
No. The vests must not be accepted in place of any portion of the required number of approved life preservers.
“such vests shall not be accepted in lieu of any portion of the required number of approved life preservers”
Who controls the use of approved buoyant work vests?
Designated ship's officers supervise and control their use.
“They shall be used under the supervision and control of designated ship's officers.”
The text of 46 CFR 196.34-10
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Use
(a) Approved buoyant work vests are considered to be items of safety apparel and may be carried aboard vessels to be worn by crew members when working near or over the water under favorable working conditions. They shall be used under the supervision and control of designated ship's officers. When carried, such vests shall not be accepted in lieu of any portion of the required number of approved life preservers and shall not be substituted for the approved life preservers required to be worn during drills and emergencies.
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.