[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR170.055]

[Page 97-99]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 170_STABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INSPECTED VESSELS--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart B_Definitions
 
Sec. 170.055  Definitions concerning a vessel.

    (a) Auxiliary sailing vessel means a vessel capable of being 
propelled both by mechanical means and by sails.
    (b) Barge means a vessel not equipped with a means of self-
propulsion.
    (c) Beam or B means the maximum width of a vessel from--
    (1) Outside of planking to outside of planking on wooden vessels; 
and
    (2) Outside of frame to outside of frame on all other vessels.
    (d) Bulkhead deck means the uppermost deck to which watertight 
bulkheads and the watertight shell extend.
    (e) Downflooding means, except as provided in Sec. 174.035(b), the 
entry of seawater through any opening into the hull or superstructure of 
an undamaged vessel due to heel, trim, or submergence of the vessel.
    (f) Documented alterations means changes to the vessel which are 
reflected in the approved stability information carried on board the 
vessel.
    (g) Downflooding angle means, except as specified by Sec. Sec. 
171.055(f), 172.090(d),

[[Page 98]]

173.095(e), 174.015(b), and 174.035(b)(2) of this chapter, the static 
angle from the intersection of the vessel's centerline and waterline in 
calm water to the first opening that cannot be closed watertight and 
through which downflooding can occur.
    (h) Draft means the vertical distance from the molded baseline 
amidships to the waterline.
    (i) Length means the distance between fore and aft points on a 
vessel. The following specific terms are used and correspond to specific 
fore and aft points:
    (1) Length between perpendiculars (LBP) means the horizontal 
distance measured between perpendiculars taken at the forward-most and 
after-most points on the waterline corresponding to the deepest 
operating draft. For a small passenger vessel which has underwater 
projections extending forward of the forward-most point or aft of the 
after-most point on the deepest waterline of the vessel, the Commanding 
Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, may include the length 
or a portion of the length of the underwater projections in the value 
used for the LBP for the purposes of this subchapter. The length or a 
portion of the length of projections which contribute more than 2 
percent of the underwater volume of the vessel is normally added to the 
actual LBP.
    (2) Length overall (LOA) means the horizontal distance between the 
forward-most and after-most points on the hull.
    (3) Length on the waterline (LWL) means the horizontal distance 
between the forward-most and after-most points on a vessel's waterline.
    (4) Length on deck (LOD) means the length between the forward-most 
and after-most points on a specified deck measured along the deck, 
excluding sheer.
    (5) Load line length (LLL) has the same meaning that is provided for 
the term length in Sec. 42.13-15(a) of this chapter.
    (6) Mean length is the average of the length between perpendiculars 
(LBP) and the length on deck (LOD).
    (j) Lightweight means with fixed ballast and with machinery liquids 
at operating levels but without any cargo, stores, consumable liquids, 
water ballast, or persons and their effects.
    (k) Main transverse watertight bulkhead means a transverse bulkhead 
that must be maintained watertight in order for the vessel to meet the 
damage stability and subdivision requirements in this subchapter.
    (l) Major conversion, as applied to Great Lakes bulk carriers, means 
a conversion of an existing vessel that substantially changes the 
dimensions or carrying capacity of the vessel or changes the the type of 
vessel or substantially prolongs its life or that otherwise so changes 
the vessel that it is essentially a new vessel.
    (m) Permeability is the percentage of the volume of a space that can 
be occupied by water.
    (n) Sailing vessel means a vessel propelled only by sails.
    (o) Ship means a self-propelled vessel.
    (p) Tank vessel means a vessel that is specially constructed or 
converted to carry liquid bulk cargo in tanks.
    (q) Tank barge means a tank vessel not equipped with a means of 
self-propulsion.
    (r) Tank ship means a tank vessel propelled by mechanical means or 
sails.
    (s) Vessel means any vessel and includes both ships and barges.
    (t) Weather deck means the uppermost deck exposed to the weather.
    (u) Existing sailing school vessel means a sailing vessel whose keel 
was laid prior to (January 9, 1986), which has an application for 
initial inspection for certification as a sailing school vessel on file 
with the Coast Guard prior to (January 9, 1987), and whose initial 
inspection for certification is completed prior to (January 9, 1988).
    (v) New sailing school vessel means a sailing school vessel which is 
not an existing sailing school vessel.
    (w) Small passenger vessel means a vessel of less than 100 gross 
tons--
    (1) Carrying more than 6 passengers, including at least one 
passenger for hire;
    (2) That is chartered with the crew provided or specified by the 
owner or owner's representative and carrying more than 6 passengers;
    (3) That is chartered with no crew provided or specified by the 
owner or

[[Page 99]]

owner's representative and carrying more than 12 passengers; or
    (4) That is a submersible vessel carrying at least one passenger for 
hire.

[CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51010, Nov. 4, 1983, as amended by CGD 83-005, 51 FR 
923, Jan. 9, 1986; 51 FR 3785, Jan. 30, 1986; CGD 80-159, 51 FR 33059, 
Sept. 18, 1986; 51 FR 35515, Oct. 6, 1986; CGD 89-037, 57 FR 41825, 
Sept. 11, 1992; CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 60 FR 57671, Nov. 16, 1995; 
CGD 85-080, 61 FR 943, Jan. 10, 1996; CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 
49353, Sept. 19, 1997]