StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

46 CFR §35.20-45

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
When the automatic pilot is used in:
  1. (a)Areas of high traffic density;
  2. (b)Conditions of restricted visibility; and
  3. (c)All other hazardous navigational situations, the master shall ensure that:
    1. (1)It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;
    2. (2)A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and
    3. (3)The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer of the watch.