NVIC 08-69: Resuming drills with rocket line-throwing appliances

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This Coast Guard circular tells interested parties when quarterly drills with impulse-projected rocket type line-throwing appliances may resume. Vessels should confirm they have the new "TENZALOY" shield support bracket first. It cancels NVIC No. 2-65 and is guidance, not a regulation.

Applies toAll merchant vessels which carry the model G.K.-52-CK impulse projected rocket type line-throwing appliance.

What it says

  1. This circular cancels Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 2-65 dated 31 March 1965.

    “Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 2-65 dated 31 March 1965 is”

  2. Vessels carrying the model G.K.-52-CK appliance should make certain they have the new "TENZALOY" shield support bracket.

    NVIC 08-69(a)“should make certain that they have the new "TENZALOY" shield support bracket.”

  3. If the bracket is not of the new material, a replacement may be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Kilgore Corp., Toone, Tennessee, at a cost of $3.50 F.O.B., Toone, Tennessee.

    NVIC 08-69(b)“a replacement bracket may be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Kilgore Corp., Toone, Tennessee”

  4. Once certain the appliance has the "TENZALOY" bracket, vessels shall resume quarterly drills using the remote firing mode.

    NVIC 08-69(c)“quarterly drills shall be resumed using the remote firing mode.”

  5. The black powder rocket propellant should not be dropped, jolted or roughly handled. Rockets should be stored to avoid extreme fluctuations in temperatures.

    NVIC 08-69(d)“which should not be dropped, jolted or roughly handled. The rockets should be stored so as to avoid extreme fluctuations in”

  6. No rocket shall be fired if its date shows it is over the acceptable age (4 years) permitted by the regulations.

    NVIC 08-69(e)“No rocket shall be fired if its date indicates it is over the acceptable age (4 years) permitted”

  7. No rocket with less than six screws in the rocket head shall be fired.

    NVIC 08-69(e)“having less than six screws in the rocket head shall be fired.”

Common questions

When can quarterly drills resume with the G.K.-52-CK line-throwing appliance?

Quarterly drills shall resume once the vessel is certain the appliance has the "TENZALOY" shield support bracket. Drills use the remote firing mode.

“When certain that the appliance has the "TENZALOY" shield support bracket, quarterly”

What was the cause of the reported failures of the line-throwing appliance?

The investigation found the reported failures were in the shield support bracket. Tests with a new "TENZALOY" bracket could not duplicate them.

“it was determined that the reported failures”

How old can a line-throwing rocket be before it must not be fired?

No rocket shall be fired if its date shows it is over the acceptable age (4 years) permitted by the regulations.

“No rocket shall be fired if its date indicates it is over the acceptable age (4 years) permitted”

What is the completion date for conversions under NVIC 08-69?

All conversions should be completed by 1 January 1970.

“All conversions should be completed by 1 January 1970.”

The text of NVIC 08-69

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 08-69 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES COAST GUARD COMM ANOANT (MMT-3) U.S. COAST GUARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 20591 NVIC NO. 8-69 22 Oct 1969 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 8-69 Subject:Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances — Purpose. This circular is to inform all interested parties of the conditions for resuming quarterly

drills on vessels having the subject type appliance.

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances — Cancellation. Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 2-65 dated 31 March 1965 is

canceled.

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances — Background. During June 1969 a Notice to Mariners and an instruction to inspection personnel

were issued reconfirming the suspension of quarterly drills with the subject appliance. After investigation and conducting tests on the appliance, it was determined that the reported failures were in the shield support bracket. Repeated tests with a new shield support bracket made of "TENZALOY" could not duplicate the failures.

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances — Action.

(a) All merchant vessels which carry the model G.K.-52-CK impulse projected rocket type line-throwing appliance should make certain that they have the new "TENZALOY" shield support bracket. A picture is enclosed showing where the name “TENZALOY” is placed on the bracket. (b) If it is determined that the shield support bracket is not of the new material, a replacement bracket may be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Kilgore Corp., Toone, Tennessee 383dl, at a cost of $3.50 F.O.B., Toone, Tennessee. (c) When certain that the appliance has the "TENZALOY" shield support bracket, quarterly drills shall be resumed using the remote firing mode. (d) The rocket propellant is of black powder composition which should not be dropped, jolted or roughly handled. The rockets should be stored so as to avoid extreme fluctuations in temperatures. (e) No rocket shall be fired if its date indicates it is over the acceptable age (4 years) permitted by the regulations. No rocket8 having less than six screws in the rocket head shall be fired.

Impulse-Projected Rocket Type Line-Throwing Appliances — Effective Date. All conversions should be completed by 1 January 1970.

Encl: (1) Photograph shield support bracket showing name location Dist: (SDL NO. 89) A: None B: n(45); c(l0); q(6); eg(3); bp(1) C: m(4); o(2) D: i(2); k(l) E: o(2) F: jp(l) Lists 112-155

Sections it refers to

  • NVIC 2-65

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.