46 CFR 199.03: Relationship of lifesaving rules to SOLAS
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says the listed subparts are based on Chapter III, SOLAS, and explains how to match section numbers to SOLAS regulations. A vessel with a valid listed certificate is considered to meet this part if its equipment meets § 199.40 and it meets the added requirements in paragraph (b). The OCMI may reject the certificates in certain cases.
Applies toVessels carrying a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, each supplemented by a Record of Equipment, for purposes of this part.
What it says
To find the matching Chapter III, SOLAS regulation, start at § 199.10 and divide the section number after the decimal point by 10.
46 CFR 199.03(a)“To find the corresponding Chapter III, SOLAS regulation for this subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part, beginning with § 199.10, divide the section number following the decimal point by 10.”
A vessel with a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, each supplemented by a Record of Equipment, is considered to meet this part if its equipment meets § 199.40 and it meets the additional requirements listed in paragraph (b), beyond SOLAS Chapter III.
46 CFR 199.03(b)“is considered to have met the requirements of this part if the equipment meets § 199.40 and if, in addition to the requirements of SOLAS Chapter III, the vessel meets the following requirements:”
A new lifeboat and launching appliance on a tank vessel may be of aluminum construction only if its stowage location is protected with a water spray system in accordance with § 199.290(b).
46 CFR 199.03(b)(1)“Each new lifeboat and launching appliance on a tank vessel may be of aluminum construction only if its stowage location is protected with a water spray system”
Each child-size lifejacket and immersion suit must be appropriately marked and stowed separately from adult or extended-size devices, as required in § 199.70(b)(2).
46 CFR 199.03(b)(2)“Each child-size lifejacket and immersion suit must be appropriately marked and stowed separately from adult or extended-size devices as required in § 199.70(b)(2).”
Each liferaft must be arranged to drop into the water from the deck on which it is stowed, as required in § 199.130(c)(3).
46 CFR 199.03(b)(7)“Each liferaft must be arranged to permit it to drop into the water from the deck on which it is stowed as required in § 199.130(c)(3).”
Immersion suits must be carried on all cargo vessels except those operating between the 32 degrees north and 32 degrees south latitude, in accordance with § 199.273.
46 CFR 199.03(b)(13)“Immersion suits must be carried on all cargo vessels except those operating between the 32 degrees north and 32 degrees south latitude in accordance with § 199.273.”
The certificates in paragraph (b) are accepted as proof of compliance unless the OCMI determines that the vessel or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the certificate particulars, or that they have not been maintained in conformance with the regulations in this part.
46 CFR 199.03(c)“The certificates in paragraph (b) of this section will be accepted as proof of compliance with the requirements in this part unless the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), determines that—”
Common questions
Is 46 CFR part 199 based on SOLAS?
Yes. This subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part are based on Chapter III, SOLAS.
“This subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part are based on Chapter III, SOLAS.”
Do paragraph numbers in part 199 match SOLAS Chapter III?
No. Section numbers are generally related to SOLAS regulation numbers, but paragraph designations are not related to the SOLAS numbering.
“Section numbers in this subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part are generally related to the regulation numbers in Chapter III, SOLAS, but paragraph designations are not related to the numbering in Chapter III, SOLAS.”
When can the OCMI refuse to accept a SOLAS certificate under part 199?
The OCMI may do so if the vessel or equipment condition does not correspond substantially with the certificate particulars. The OCMI may also do so if the vessel and equipment have not been maintained in conformance with this part.
“The vessel and its equipment have not been maintained in conformance with the provisions of the regulations in this part.”
The text of 46 CFR 199.03
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Relationship to international standards
(a) This subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part are based on Chapter III, SOLAS. Section numbers in this subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part are generally related to the regulation numbers in Chapter III, SOLAS, but paragraph designations are not related to the numbering in Chapter III, SOLAS. To find the corresponding Chapter III, SOLAS regulation for this subpart and subparts B, C, and D of this part, beginning with § 199.10, divide the section number following the decimal point by 10.
(b) For purposes of this part, any vessel carrying a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate supplemented by a Record of Equipment, or a valid Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate supplemented by a Record of Equipment, is considered to have met the requirements of this part if the equipment meets § 199.40 and if, in addition to the requirements of SOLAS Chapter III, the vessel meets the following requirements:
(1) Each new lifeboat and launching appliance on a tank vessel may be of aluminum construction only if its stowage location is protected with a water spray system in accordance with § 199.290(b).
(2) Each child-size lifejacket and immersion suit must be appropriately marked and stowed separately from adult or extended-size devices as required in § 199.70(b)(2).
(3) Each lifejacket and immersion suit must be marked with the vessel's name in accordance with § 199.70 (b)(3) and (c)(3).
(4) Inflatable lifejackets, if carried, must be of the same or similar design as required by § 199.70(b).
(5) Containers for lifejackets, immersion suits, and anti-exposure suits must be marked as specified in § 199.70(d).
(6) Instructions for passengers must include illustrated instructions on the method of donning lifejackets as required in § 199.80(c)(5).
(7) Each liferaft must be arranged to permit it to drop into the water from the deck on which it is stowed as required in § 199.130(c)(3).
(8) Lifeboats and rescue boats must be arranged to allow safe disembarkation onto the vessel after a drill in accordance with § 199.110(h).
(9) The requirements for guarding of falls in § 199.153 (e) and (g) must be met.
(10) The winch drum requirements described in § 199.153(f) must be met for all survival craft winches, including multiple drum winches.
(11) The maximum lowering speed requirements for launching arrangements using falls and a winch in § 199.153 (i) and (j) must be met.
(12) An auxiliary line must be kept with each line-throwing appliance in accordance with § 199.170(c)(2).
(13) Immersion suits must be carried on all cargo vessels except those operating between the 32 degrees north and 32 degrees south latitude in accordance with § 199.273.
(14) Vessels carrying immersion suits must conduct drills in accordance with §§ 199.180 (d)(11) and (d)(12).
(c) The certificates in paragraph (b) of this section will be accepted as proof of compliance with the requirements in this part unless the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), determines that—
(1) The condition of the vessel or of its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of its certificates; or
(2) The vessel and its equipment have not been maintained in conformance with the provisions of the regulations in this part.
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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.