NVIC 02-89: Guide for electrical installations on vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This Circular is Coast Guard guidance on electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units. Its enclosure is a guide to the Coast Guard Electrical Engineering Regulations, 46 CFR 110-113. It does not amend the regulations.
Applies toThe Circular offers guidance to any party interested in electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units.
What it says
The Circular provides guidance on electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units.
“This Circular has been prepared to provide guidance concerning”
The Circular gives the marine industry information on regulatory intent and background, and on practices found to provide a level of safety equivalent to that of the specific regulations.
“information on regulatory intent and background, and on practices which have been found to provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided for by the specific regulations.”
Enclosure (1) augments the CFR by giving details on acceptable methods of complying with those regulations and other important information related to electrical installations.
“It augments the CFR, giving details on acceptable methods of complying with those regulations as well as other important information related to electrical installations.”
Other alternatives may be equally acceptable based upon the specific installation.
“It must be emphasized that other alternatives may be equally acceptable based upon the specific installation.”
Nothing in the guide amends the applicable requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations.
“Nothing contained in this guide shall be taken as amending the applicable requirements set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations,”
Any party interested in electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units should consider the guidance in this Circular.
“Any party interested in electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units should consider the guidance in this Circular.”
Common questions
What is NVIC 02-89 about?
It is guidance on electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units. Enclosure (1) is a guide to the Coast Guard Electrical Engineering Regulations, 46 CFR 110-113.
“Enclosure (1) is a guide to the Coast Guard Electrical Engineering Regulations, 46 CFR 110-113.”
Does NVIC 02-89 change the electrical regulations in the CFR?
No. Nothing in the guide is to be taken as amending the applicable requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations.
“Nothing contained in this guide shall be taken as amending the applicable requirements set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations,”
Are the methods in the guide the only acceptable ones?
No. The text says other alternatives may be equally acceptable based upon the specific installation.
“It must be emphasized that other alternatives may be equally acceptable based upon the specific installation.”
The text of NVIC 02-89
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 02-89 (main body; enclosures not shown)
Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units
NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 2-89 Subj: Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units
Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units — PURPOSE. This Circular has been prepared to provide guidance concerning
electrical installations on merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units. It is intended to provide the marine industry with information on regulatory intent and background, and on practices which have been found to provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided for by the specific regulations.
Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units — DISCUSSION. Enclosure (1) is a guide to the Coast Guard Electrical
Engineering Regulations, 46 CFR 110-113. It augments the CFR, giving details on acceptable methods of complying with those regulations as well as other important information related to electrical installations. It must be emphasized that other alternatives may be equally acceptable based upon the specific installation. Nothing contained in this guide shall be taken as amending the applicable requirements set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, nor as limiting the authority of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection in his determination of acceptable materials and installation methods.
Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units — IMPLEMENTATION. Any party interested in electrical installations on
merchant vessels and mobile offshore drilling units should consider the guidance in this Circular. Chief, Office of Marine Safety Security and Environmental Protection Encl: (1) Guide for Electrical Installations on Merchant Vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units DISTRIBUTION-SDL No. 127 [Distribution table showing allocation to various commands] NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION:
Sections it refers to
- 46 CFR 110-113
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. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.