[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR171.085]

[Page 135-136]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 171--SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO VESSELS CARRYING PASSENGERS--Table of Contents
 
             Subpart D--Additional Subdivision Requirements
 
Sec. 171.085  Collision bulkhead.


    (a) Paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section apply to each vessel 
of 100 gross tons or more and paragraphs (h) through (j) of this section 
apply to each vessel that is less than 100 gross tons.
    (b) The portion of the collision bulkhead that is below the bulkhead 
deck must be watertight.
    (c) Each portion of the collision bulkhead must be at least--
    (1) 5 percent of the LBP from the forward perpendicular in a motor 
vessel; and
    (2) 5 feet (1.52 meters) from the forward perpendicular in a steam 
vessel.
    (d) The collision bulkhead must be no more than 10 feet (3 meters) 
plus 5 percent of the LBP from the forward perpendicular.
    (e) The collision bulkhead must extend to the deck above the 
bulkhead deck if the vessel--
    (1) Is in ocean service; and
    (2) Has a superstructure that extends from a point forward of the 
collision bulkhead to a point at least 15 percent of the LBP aft of the 
collision bulkhead.
    (f) The collision bulkhead required by paragraph (e) of this section 
must have the following characteristics:
    (1) The portion of the collision bulkhead above the bulkhead deck 
must be weathertight.
    (2) If the portion of the collision bulkhead above the bulkhead deck 
is

[[Page 136]]

not located directly above the collision bulkhead below the bulkhead 
deck, then the bulkhead deck between must be weathertight.
    (g) Each opening in the collision bulkhead must--
    (1) Be located above the bulkhead deck; and
    (2) Have a watertight closure.
    (h) Each collision bulkhead--
    (1) Must extend to the deck above the bulkhead deck if in ocean 
service as defined in Sec. 170.050(f) of this chapter or to the bulkhead 
deck if in service on other waters;
    (2) May not have watertight doors in it; and
    (3) May have penetrations and openings that--
    (i) Are located as high and as far inboard as practicable; and
    (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, have means 
to make them watertight.
    (i) Each vessel that is not required to comply with a one or two 
compartment standard of flooding may have an opening that cannot be made 
watertight in the collision bulkhead below the bulkhead deck if--
    (1) The lowest edge of the opening is not more than 12 inches (30.5 
centimeters) below the bulkhead deck; and
    (2) There are at least 36 inches (92 centimeters) of intact 
collision bulkhead below the lower edge of the opening.
    (j) Each portion of the collision bulkhead must be--
    (1) At least 5 percent of the LBP from the forward perpendicular; 
and
    (2) No more than 15 percent of the LBP from the forward 
perpendicular if the space forward of the collision bulkhead is not 
subject to damage stability requirements and at any location aft of the 
location described in paragraph (j)(1) of this section if the space 
forward of the collision bulkhead is subject to damage stability 
requirements.

[CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51017, Nov. 4, 1983, as amended by CGD 85-080, 61 FR 
945, Jan. 10, 1996]