46 CFR 35.20-10: Steering gear tests on tankships
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires a licensed officer to examine and test a tankship's steering gear, whistle, means of communication, and signaling appliances between the bridge or pilothouse and engineroom. Timing depends on voyage length and where the vessel operates: within 12 hours before leaving port for voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, and at least once in every week for voyages of less than 48 hours' duration or operation on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers. The fact and time of each test must be recorded in the ship's logbook.
Applies toThe section applies to tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, and to such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers.
What it says
On tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, a licensed officer of the vessel must examine and test the entire steering gear, the whistle, the means of communication, and the signaling appliances between the bridge or pilothouse and engineroom.
“On all tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, the entire steering gear, the whistle, the means of communication, and the signaling appliances between the bridge or pilothouse and engineroom”
On tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, the examination and test must take place within a period of not more than 12 hours before leaving port.
“shall be examined and tested by a licensed officer of the vessel within a period of not more than 12 hours before leaving port.”
Such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration, or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers, must be examined and tested at least once in every week.
“All such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers shall be so examined and tested at least once in every week.”
The fact and time of each examination and test must be recorded in the ship's logbook.
“The fact and time of such examination and test shall be recorded in the ship's logbook.”
Common questions
How long before leaving port must steering gear be tested on a tankship?
On tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, the test must be done within a period of not more than 12 hours before leaving port.
“shall be examined and tested by a licensed officer of the vessel within a period of not more than 12 hours before leaving port.”
How often must tankship steering gear be tested on short voyages or on rivers?
Such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration, or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers, must be examined and tested at least once in every week.
“All such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers shall be so examined and tested at least once in every week.”
Do steering gear tests have to be recorded?
Yes. The fact and time of the examination and test must be recorded in the ship's logbook.
“The fact and time of such examination and test shall be recorded in the ship's logbook.”
The text of 46 CFR 35.20-10
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Steering gear test—T/ALL
On all tankships making voyages of more than 48 hours' duration, the entire steering gear, the whistle, the means of communication, and the signaling appliances between the bridge or pilothouse and engineroom shall be examined and tested by a licensed officer of the vessel within a period of not more than 12 hours before leaving port. All such vessels making voyages of less than 48 hours' duration or operating on lakes, bays, sounds, and rivers shall be so examined and tested at least once in every week. The fact and time of such examination and test shall be recorded in the ship's logbook.
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.