[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR42.09-1]

[Page 20-21]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 42_DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VOYAGES BY SEA--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart 42.09_Load Line Assignments and Surveys_General Requirements
 
Sec. 42.09-1  Assignment of load lines.


    (a) The assignment of load lines is conditioned upon the structural 
efficiency and satisfactory stability of the vessel, and upon the 
provisions provided on the vessel for her effective protection and that 
of the crew. Certain vessels, such as vessels carrying all their cargo 
as deck cargo, or vessels where design or service require special 
conditions to be applicable, shall have certain stability limitations 
imposed on them, as may be necessary. When stability limitations for a 
vessel are

[[Page 21]]

prescribed, the assigning authority shall furnish the master the 
vessel's maximum draft permitted and other conditions, including 
reference to Commandant approved operating stability features, which may 
be applicable.
    (1) No load line assignment shall be made under this part to a 
vessel proceeding on a foreign voyage, or where the load line assignment 
is related to the flooded stability provisions and the vessel is 
proceeding on a domestic voyage, until the applicable light ship 
characteristics are established and incorporated into the vessel's 
stability data approved by the Commandant and furnished to the master of 
the vessel.
    (2) If load line assignments are made to vessels for coastwise 
voyages before the results of the required stability characteristics are 
determined and incorporated into the vessel's stability data approved by 
the Commandant, then such load line assignments shall be regarded as 
conditional and shall be subject to verification or modification for 
removal of the conditional status. Any vessel with a conditional load 
line assignment shall not be loaded beyond a conservative safe draft. 
Where the Commandant deems it unnecessary, the requirement for 
furnishing stability information to the masters of coastwise vessels 
assigned load lines not related to flooded stability may be omitted and 
the assigning authority and others concerned will be so notified.
    (b) Each vessel subject to load line requirements shall carry on 
board a valid certificate attesting to compliance with such 
requirements. (See Sec. Sec. 42.07-35 and 42.07-40 for additional data 
furnished to the vessel.)
    (c) The master of the vessel for which a load line certificate has 
been issued shall be responsible for the maintenance of such certificate 
on board such vessel and for compliance with its terms and conditions. 
Additionally, the master shall be responsible for having the current 
load line survey report on board the vessel. This report shall be made 
available to surveyors when carrying out subsequent load line surveys.

[CGFR 68-60, 33 FR 10055, July 12, 1968, as amended by CGFR 68-126, 34 
FR 9012, June 5, 1969]