46 CFR 27.209: Crew fire drills and instruction

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out fire-response training for crews. The master or person in charge must ensure each crewmember participates in drills and receives instruction at least once each month. A crewmember who has not done both must receive a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.

Applies toThe text applies to the master or person in charge of a vessel and to each crewmember of the vessel.

What it says

  1. The master or person in charge of a vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in drills and receives instruction at least once each month.

    46 CFR 27.209(a)“must ensure that each crewmember participates in drills and receives instruction at least once each month.”

  2. All crewmembers must be familiar with their fire-fighting duties, including fighting an engine room fire, activating the general alarm, and reporting inoperative alarm and fire-detection systems.

    46 CFR 27.209(a)“You must ensure that all crewmembers are familiar with their fire-fighting duties”

  3. Crewmembers must be familiar with putting on a fireman's outfit and a self-contained breathing apparatus, if the vessel is so equipped.

    46 CFR 27.209(a)(4)“Putting on a fireman's outfit and a self-contained breathing apparatus, if the vessel is so equipped.”

  4. The master or person in charge may replace the required instruction with video training materials on at least the listed contingencies, followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with them. This may happen on board or off the vessel.

    46 CFR 27.209(b)“followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with these contingencies. This instruction may occur either on board or off the vessel.”

  5. Drills must take place on board the vessel, as if there were an actual emergency.

    46 CFR 27.209(c)“Drills must take place on board the vessel, as if there were an actual emergency.”

  6. Drills must include testing of all alarm and detection systems.

    46 CFR 27.209(c)(3)“Testing of all alarm and detection systems; and”

  7. The master or person in charge must ensure that a crewmember who has not both participated in the drills and received the instruction required by paragraph (a) receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.

    46 CFR 27.209(d)“receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.”

  8. The safety orientation must cover the particular contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

    46 CFR 27.209(e)“The safety orientation must cover the particular contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section.”

Common questions

How often must crewmembers take part in fire drills?

Each crewmember must participate in drills and receive instruction at least once each month. The instruction may coincide with the drills, but need not.

“The instruction may coincide with the drills, but need not.”

Can video training replace fire instruction?

Yes. The master or person in charge may substitute video training materials on at least the listed contingencies, followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with them.

“may substitute, for the instruction required in paragraph (a) of this section, the viewing of video training materials”

What must a fire drill include?

Drills must include participation by all crewmembers, and breaking out and using, or simulating the use of, emergency equipment. They must also include testing of all alarm and detection systems.

“Breaking out and using, or simulating the use of, emergency equipment;”

When does a crewmember need a safety orientation?

A crewmember who has not both participated in the drills and received the instruction required by paragraph (a) must receive a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.

“receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.”

The text of 46 CFR 27.209

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

What are the requirements for training crews to respond to fires?

(a) Drills and instruction. The master or person in charge of a vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in drills and receives instruction at least once each month. The instruction may coincide with the drills, but need not. You must ensure that all crewmembers are familiar with their fire-fighting duties, and, specifically, with the following contingencies:

(1) Fighting a fire in the engine room and elsewhere on board the vessel, including how to—

(i) Operate all of the fire-extinguishing equipment on board the vessel;

(ii) Stop any mechanical ventilation system for the engine room and effectively seal all natural openings to the space to prevent leakage of the extinguishing agent; and

(iii) Operate the fuel shut-off for the engine room.

(2) Activating the general alarm.

(3) Reporting inoperative alarm systems and fire-detection systems.

(4) Putting on a fireman's outfit and a self-contained breathing apparatus, if the vessel is so equipped.

(b) Alternative form of instruction. The master or person in charge of a vessel may substitute, for the instruction required in paragraph (a) of this section, the viewing of video training materials concerning at least the contingencies listed in paragraph (a), followed by a discussion led by someone familiar with these contingencies. This instruction may occur either on board or off the vessel.

(c) Participation in drills. Drills must take place on board the vessel, as if there were an actual emergency. They must include—

(1) Participation by all crewmembers;

(2) Breaking out and using, or simulating the use of, emergency equipment;

(3) Testing of all alarm and detection systems; and

(4) Putting on protective clothing (by at least one person), if the vessel is so equipped.

(d) Safety orientation. The master or person in charge of a vessel must ensure that each crewmember who has not (i) participated in the drills required by paragraph (a) of this section, and (ii) received the instruction required by that paragraph, receives a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty.

(e) The safety orientation must cover the particular contingencies listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

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.