[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR15.610]

[Page 249-250]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 15_MANNING REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
           Subpart E_Manning Requirements; Uninspected Vessels
 
Sec. 15.610  Master and mate (pilot) of towing vessels.

    (a) Except as provided in this paragraph, every towing vessel of at 
least 8 meters (at least 26 feet) in length, measured from end to end 
over the deck (excluding sheer), must be under the direction and control 
of a person licensed as master or mate (pilot) of

[[Page 250]]

towing vessels or as master or mate of vessels of greater than 200 gross 
register tons holding either an endorsement on his or her license for 
towing vessels or a completed Towing Officer's Assessment Record (TOAR) 
signed by a designated examiner indicating that the officer is 
proficient in the operation of towing vessels. This does not apply to 
any vessel engaged in assistance towing, or to any towing vessel of less 
than 200 gross register tons engaged in exploiting offshore minerals or 
oil if the vessel has sites or equipment so engaged as its place of 
departure or ultimate destination.
    (b) An officer may continue to operate towing vessels within any 
restrictions of his or her license from May 21, 2001, until the first 
renewal or upgrade of that license, but not later than May 21, 2006. 
Every towing vessel covered by paragraph (a) of this section must carry 
at least the following personnel:
    (1) An officer designated Master and holding a license as--
    (i) Master of towing vessels;
    (ii) Master of towing vessels (Limited) when operating solely within 
a limited local area;
    (iii) Operator of uninspected towing vessels;
    (iv) Master of inspected, self-propelled vessels within any 
restrictions on the license; or
    (v) Mate or first-class pilot of inspected, self-propelled vessels 
with a license for service in vessels of greater than 200 gross register 
tons (Domestic service only).
    (2) Another officer, if the vessel is operating more than 12 hours 
in any 24-hour period, holding a license--
    (i) Listed in 46 CFR 15.610(b)(1);
    (ii) As mate (pilot) of towing vessels;
    (iii) As second-class OUTV; or
    (iv) As mate of inspected, self-propelled vessels within any 
restrictions on the license.
    (c) Paragraph (b) of this section applies until the officer's first 
renewal or upgrade of license after May 21, 2001.
    (d) Any towing vessel operating in the pilotage waters of the Lower 
Mississippi River must be under the control of an officer who holds a 
first-class pilot's license or endorsement for that route, or meets the 
requirements of either paragraph (d)(1) or paragraph (d)(2) of this 
section as applicable:
    (1) To operate a towing vessel with tank barges, or a tow of barges 
carrying hazardous materials regulated under part N or O of this 
subchapter, an officer in charge of the towing vessel must have 
completed 12 round trips over this route as an observer, with at least 3 
of those trips during hours of darkness, and at least 1 round trip of 
the 12 within the last 5 years.
    (2) To operate a towing vessel without barges, or a tow of 
uninspected barges, an officer in charge of the towing vessel must have 
completed at least four round trips over this route as an observer, with 
at least one of those trips during hours of darkness, and at least one 
round trip of the 12 within the last 5 years.

[USCG-1999-6224, 66 FR 20944, Apr. 26, 2001, as amended at 68 FR 35818, 
June 17, 2003]