46 CFR 199.212: Lifejackets on passenger vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets lifejacket requirements for passenger vessels in addition to those under § 199.70(b). Paragraph (a) requires extra lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board and sets where they are stowed. Paragraph (b) sets stowage rules for additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) where lifejackets for persons other than the crew are stowed in remote staterooms.
Applies toPassenger vessels.
What it says
In addition to the lifejackets required under § 199.70(b), each passenger vessel must carry lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board.
46 CFR 199.212(a)“In addition to the lifejackets required under § 199.70(b), each passenger vessel must carry lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board.”
The lifejackets carried for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board must be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at muster stations.
46 CFR 199.212(a)“These lifejackets must be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at muster stations.”
Where lifejackets for persons other than the crew are stowed in staterooms located remotely from direct routes between public spaces and muster stations, any additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) for these persons must be stowed in the public spaces, near muster stations, or on direct routes between them.
46 CFR 199.212(b)“any additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) for these persons must be stowed in the public spaces, near muster stations, or on direct routes between them.”
Those additional lifejackets for persons other than the crew must be stowed so that their distribution and donning does not impede orderly movement to muster stations and survival craft embarkation stations.
46 CFR 199.212(b)“These lifejackets must be stowed so that their distribution and donning does not impede orderly movement to muster stations and survival craft embarkation stations.”
Common questions
How many extra lifejackets must a passenger vessel carry?
In addition to the lifejackets required under § 199.70(b), each passenger vessel must carry lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board.
“each passenger vessel must carry lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board.”
Where must the extra 5 percent lifejackets be stowed on a passenger vessel?
They must be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at muster stations.
“These lifejackets must be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at muster stations.”
Where must additional lifejackets go when passengers' lifejackets are in remote staterooms?
Where lifejackets for persons other than the crew are stowed in staterooms located remotely from direct routes between public spaces and muster stations, the additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) must be stowed in the public spaces, near muster stations, or on direct routes between them.
“any additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) for these persons must be stowed in the public spaces, near muster stations, or on direct routes between them.”
The text of 46 CFR 199.212
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Lifejackets
(a) In addition to the lifejackets required under § 199.70(b), each passenger vessel must carry lifejackets for at least 5 percent of the total number of persons on board. These lifejackets must be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at muster stations.
(b) Where lifejackets for persons other than the crew are stowed in staterooms located remotely from direct routes between public spaces and muster stations, any additional lifejackets required by § 199.70(b)(2)(v) for these persons must be stowed in the public spaces, near muster stations, or on direct routes between them. These lifejackets must be stowed so that their distribution and donning does not impede orderly movement to muster stations and survival craft embarkation stations.
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.