[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: 46CFR180.208]

[Page 259]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 180_LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart E_Number and Type of Survival Craft
 
Sec. 180.208  Survival craft--vessels operating on rivers routes.

    (a) Except as allowed by paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this 
section, each vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in cold 
water must either:
    (1) Be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will 
accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on 
board; or
    (2) Meet either the standards for collision bulkheads in Sec. Sec. 
179.310 of this chapter or 171.085 in subchapter S of this chapter, and 
the standards for subdivision in Sec. Sec. 179.220 and 179.320 of this 
chapter, or the standards for subdivision and damaged stability in 
Sec. Sec. 171.070 through 171.073 and 171.080 in subchapter S of this 
chapter, as appropriate, and not be required to carry survival craft.
    (b) A vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in warm water 
is not required to carry survival craft.
    (c) A vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route within one 
mile of land is not required to carry survival craft.
    (d) For a vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in 
shallow water where the vessel can not sink deep enough to submerge the 
topmost passenger deck or where survivors can wade ashore, the cognizant 
OCMI may waive a requirement for life floats, if the OCMI determines 
that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope 
of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
    (e) Each vessel operating with a set schedule on a specific route 
that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an 
operations base, or participates in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), may 
be granted a reduction in the survival craft requirement of this section 
if the cognizant OCMI is satisfied that a sufficient level of safety 
exists.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 
51050, Sept. 30, 1997]