46 CFR §178.310
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, each vessel must, in each condition of loading and operation, comply with the applicable requirements of—
- (b)Sailing vessels must meet the appropriate requirements of § 171.055 or § 171.057 in subchapter S in this chapter while under sail, as well as the requirements of § 170.170 in subchapter S in this chapter while under bare poles (if an auxiliary sailing vessel as defined in § 170.055(a) of this chapter) and with storm sails set and trimmed flat (if a sailing vessel as defined in § 170.055(n) of this chapter).
- (c)As an alternative to meeting the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, a vessel may demonstrate compliance with an appropriate standard set forth in either § 178.320 of this part for non-sailing vessels or § 178.325 of this part for monohull sailing vessels if all of the following criteria are satisfied:
- (1)The length is not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length;
- (2)The vessel does not carry more than 12 passengers on an international voyage;
- (3)The vessel either does not have more than one deck above the bulkhead deck or, if without a bulkhead deck, does not have more than one deck above the deck from which freeboard is measured excluding a pilot house; and
- (4)The vessel's stability has not been questioned by the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI).
- (d)In lieu of the requirements in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section, a vessel may meet another stability standard approved by the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center.