46 CFR 25.25-5: Required life preservers and lifebuoys on vessels

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026

This section says what lifesaving equipment a vessel must carry. A vessel must have a suitable PFD for each person on board, and larger vessels must also have lifebuoys. Some substitutions are allowed.

Applies toVessels to which this subpart applies.

What it says

  1. No person may operate a vessel to which this subpart applies unless it meets the requirements of this subpart.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(a)“No person may operate a vessel to which this subpart applies unless it meets the requirements of this subpart.”

  2. Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire and less than 40 feet in length must have at least one wearable PFD approved under subchapter Q of this chapter, of a suitable size for each person on board.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(b)(1)“Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire and less than 40 feet in length must have on board at least one wearable personal flotation device (PFD) approved under subchapter Q of this chapter”

  3. Each vessel carrying passengers for hire, and each vessel not carrying passengers for hire and 40 feet in length or longer, must have at least one PFD of a suitable size for each person on board, approved under approval series 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(b)(2)“must have at least one PFD approved under approval series 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255, and of a suitable size for each person on board.”

  4. In addition to the PFDs, each vessel 26 feet in length or longer must have at least one approved lifebuoy, except a barge to which this subpart applies. Each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three approved lifebuoys.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(b)(3)“each vessel 26 feet in length or longer, except for a barge to which this subpart applies, must have at least one approved lifebuoy, and each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three approved lifebuoys.”

  5. A vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit approved under 46 CFR 160.171 for a wearable PFD required under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(c)(1)“Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit approved under 46 CFR 160.171 for a wearable PFD required under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.”

  6. On any vessel, a commercial hybrid PFD approved under former approval series 160.077 prior to January 6, 2025, may be substituted for a PFD of the series listed in paragraph (b)(2) if it is in good and serviceable condition, used as marked and in the owner's manual, and labeled for use on commercial vessels.

    46 CFR 25.25-5(c)(2)“a commercial hybrid PFD approved under former approval series 160.077 prior to January 6, 2025, may be substituted for a PFD approved under approval series 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255”

Common questions

Can a vessel not carrying passengers for hire use an immersion suit instead of a PFD?

Yes. A vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit approved under 46 CFR 160.171 for a wearable PFD required under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2).

“Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit approved under 46 CFR 160.171 for a wearable PFD required under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.”

How many lifebuoys must an uninspected passenger vessel carry?

Each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three approved lifebuoys.

“each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three approved lifebuoys.”

Do I need a PFD for every person on board a small vessel?

A vessel not carrying passengers for hire and less than 40 feet in length must have at least one wearable PFD of a suitable size for each person on board.

“must have on board at least one wearable personal flotation device (PFD) approved under subchapter Q of this chapter, and of a suitable size for each person on board.”

The text of 46 CFR 25.25-5

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Life preservers and other lifesaving equipment required

(a) No person may operate a vessel to which this subpart applies unless it meets the requirements of this subpart.

(b)(1) Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire and less than 40 feet in length must have on board at least one wearable personal flotation device (PFD) approved under subchapter Q of this chapter, and of a suitable size for each person on board.

(2) Each vessel carrying passengers for hire, and each vessel not carrying passengers for hire and 40 feet in length or longer, must have at least one PFD approved under approval series 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255, and of a suitable size for each person on board.

(3) In addition to the equipment required by paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, each vessel 26 feet in length or longer, except for a barge to which this subpart applies, must have at least one approved lifebuoy, and each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three approved lifebuoys. Lifebuoys must be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150, except that a lifebuoy approved under former 46 CFR 160.009 prior to May 9, 1979 (see 46 CFR chapter I, revised as of October 1, 1979), may be used as long as it is in good and serviceable condition.

(c)(1) Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit approved under 46 CFR 160.171 for a wearable PFD required under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.

(2) On each vessel, regardless of length and regardless of whether carrying passengers for hire, a commercial hybrid PFD approved under former approval series 160.077 prior to January 6, 2025, may be substituted for a PFD approved under approval series 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255 if it is in good and serviceable condition and—

(i) Used in accordance with the conditions marked on the PFD and in the owner's manual; and

(ii) Labeled for use on commercial vessels.

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.