46 CFR 199.160: Rescue boat embarkation, launching and recovery
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets requirements for how rescue boats are boarded, launched and recovered. A rescue boat must be launchable with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water, and its launching appliance needs a powered winch motor and a minimum hoisting rate.
Applies toRescue boats and their launching appliances; some requirements apply only if the rescue boat is one of the vessel's survival craft or is also a lifeboat.
What it says
Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water, and a painter may be used to meet this requirement.
46 CFR 199.160(a)“Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water.”
Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must let the rescue boat be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
46 CFR 199.160(b)“must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.”
The rescue boat must meet the embarkation and launching arrangement requirements of §§ 199.110 (e) and (g), 199.150, 199.155, and, if the launching arrangement uses falls and a winch, § 199.153.
46 CFR 199.160(c)“The rescue boat must meet the embarkation and launching arrangement requirements of §§ 199.110 (e) and (g), 199.150, 199.155, and if the launching arrangement uses falls and a winch, § 199.153.”
If the launching arrangement uses a single fall and the rescue boat is one of the vessel's survival craft, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
46 CFR 199.160(d)(2)“the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.”
Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when it is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
46 CFR 199.160(e)“Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.”
Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
46 CFR 199.160(f)“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.”
Each rescue boat launching appliance must be able to hoist the loaded rescue boat at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
46 CFR 199.160(g)“at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).”
Common questions
What speed must a vessel be making when launching a rescue boat?
Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
“Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water.”
Does a rescue boat launching appliance need a powered winch?
Yes. Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
“Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.”
What is the minimum hoisting rate for a rescue boat launching appliance?
It must be able to hoist the rescue boat, loaded with its full rescue boat complement of persons and equipment, at not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
“at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).”
Can a rescue boat use an automatic disengaging apparatus instead of a lifeboat release mechanism?
Yes, if the rescue boat is one of the vessel's survival craft and the launching arrangement uses a single fall. The apparatus must be approved under approval series 160.170.
“If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170”
The text of 46 CFR 199.160
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Rescue boat embarkation, launching and recovery arrangements
(a) Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched with the vessel making headway of 5 knots in calm water. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
(b) Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
(c) The rescue boat must meet the embarkation and launching arrangement requirements of §§ 199.110 (e) and (g), 199.150, 199.155, and if the launching arrangement uses falls and a winch, § 199.153.
(d) If the rescue boat is one of the vessel's survival craft, the rescue boat must also meet the following requirements:
(1) The rescue boat must meet the muster and embarkation arrangement requirements of § 199.110 and the launching station requirements of § 199.120.
(2) If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170 instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
(e) Rapid recovery of the rescue boat must be possible when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. If the rescue boat is also a lifeboat, rapid recovery must be possible when loaded with its lifeboat equipment and an approved rescue boat complement of at least six persons.
(f) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
(g) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat when loaded with its full rescue boat complement of persons and equipment at a rate of not less than 0.3 meters per second (59 feet per minute).
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.