46 CFR 97.19-1: Maneuvering information fact sheet in pilothouse

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026

This section covers the maneuvering information that ocean and coastwise vessels of 1,600 gross tons or over must show on a fact sheet in the pilothouse. The sheet must carry turning, stopping and propulsion data based on stated conditions, plus a warning statement. The information must be verified or modified after the vessel enters service.

Applies toEach ocean and coastwise vessel of 1,600 gross tons or over.

What it says

  1. The vessel must prominently display the listed maneuvering information on a fact sheet in the pilothouse.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(a)“The following maneuvering information must be prominently displayed in the pilothouse on a fact sheet:”

  2. For full and half speed, the fact sheet must include a turning circle diagram to port and starboard showing the time and the distance of advance and transfer needed to alter course 90 degrees with maximum rudder angle and constant power settings.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(a)(1)“a turning circle diagram to port and starboard that shows the time and the distance of advance and transfer required to alter the course 90 degrees with maximum rudder angle and constant power settings.”

  3. The fact sheet must give the time and distance to stop the vessel from full and half speed while keeping approximately the initial heading with minimum application of rudder.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(a)(2)“The time and distance to stop the vessel from full and half speed while maintaining approximately the initial heading with minimum application of rudder.”

  4. The maneuvering information must be given for the normal load and normal light condition with normal trim, assuming calm weather, no current, deep water and a clean hull.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(b)“The maneuvering information must be provided in the normal load and normal light condition with normal trim for a particular condition of loading assuming the following—”

  5. A warning statement must appear at the bottom of the fact sheet, saying the vessel's response may differ if the listed conditions vary.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(c)“At the bottom of the fact sheet, the following statement must appear:”

  6. The fact sheet information must be verified six months after the vessel is placed in service, or modified at that time and verified within three months after.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(d)(2)“Modified six months after the vessel is placed into service and verified within three months thereafter.”

  7. The information may come from trial trip observations, model tests, calculations, simulations, a similar vessel, or any combination of these.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(e)“The information that appears on the fact sheet may be obtained from:”

  8. Fact sheet requirements for specialized craft such as semi-submersibles, hydrofoils, hovercraft and vessels of unusual design will be specified case by case.

    46 CFR 97.19-1(f)“The requirements for information for fact sheets for specialized craft such as semi-submersibles, hydrofoils, hovercraft and other vessels of unusual design will be specified on a case by case basis.”

Common questions

Where must the maneuvering fact sheet be displayed?

The maneuvering information must be prominently displayed in the pilothouse on a fact sheet.

“The following maneuvering information must be prominently displayed in the pilothouse on a fact sheet:”

What weather and water conditions does the maneuvering information assume?

It assumes calm weather with wind 10 knots or less and a calm sea, no current, water depth twice the vessel's draft or greater, and a clean hull.

“Deep water conditions—water depth twice the vessel's draft or greater; and”

How accurate must the fact sheet information be?

The accuracy is that attainable by ordinary shipboard navigation equipment.

“The accuracy of the information in the fact sheet required is that attainable by ordinary shipboard navigation equipment.”

When must fact sheet information be verified?

It must be verified six months after the vessel is placed in service, or modified then and verified within three months after.

“Verified six months after the vessel is placed in service; or”

The text of 46 CFR 97.19-1

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

Data required

For each ocean and coastwise vessel of 1,600 gross tons or over, the following apply:

(a) The following maneuvering information must be prominently displayed in the pilothouse on a fact sheet:

(1) For full and half speed, a turning circle diagram to port and starboard that shows the time and the distance of advance and transfer required to alter the course 90 degrees with maximum rudder angle and constant power settings.

(2) The time and distance to stop the vessel from full and half speed while maintaining approximately the initial heading with minimum application of rudder.

(3) For each vessel with a fixed propeller, a table of shaft revolutions per minute for a representative range of speeds.

(4) For each vessel with a controllable pitch propeller a table of control settings or a representative range of speeds.

(5) For each vessel that is fitted with an auxiliary device to assist in maneuvering, such as a bow thruster, a table of vessel speeds at which the auxiliary device is effective in maneuvering the vessel.

(b) The maneuvering information must be provided in the normal load and normal light condition with normal trim for a particular condition of loading assuming the following—

(1) Calm weather—wind 10 knots or less, calm sea;

(2) No current;

(3) Deep water conditions—water depth twice the vessel's draft or greater; and

(4) Clean hull.

(c) At the bottom of the fact sheet, the following statement must appear:

Warning The response of the (name of the vessel) may be different from those listed above if any of the following conditions, upon which the maneuvering information is based, are varied:

(1) Calm weather—wind 10 knots or less, calm sea;

(2) No current;

(3) Water depth twice the vessel's draft or greater;

(4) Clean hull; and

(5) Intermediate drafts or unusual trim.

(d) The information on the fact sheet must be:

(1) Verified six months after the vessel is placed in service; or

(2) Modified six months after the vessel is placed into service and verified within three months thereafter.

(e) The information that appears on the fact sheet may be obtained from:

(1) Trial trip observations;

(2) Model tests;

(3) Analytical calculations;

(4) Simulations;

(5) Information established from another vessel of similar hull form, power, rudder and propeller; or

(6) Any combination of the above.

The accuracy of the information in the fact sheet required is that attainable by ordinary shipboard navigation equipment.

(f) The requirements for information for fact sheets for specialized craft such as semi-submersibles, hydrofoils, hovercraft and other vessels of unusual design will be specified on a case by case basis.

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.