(a) Except as follows, the cockpit on a cockpit vessel may be watertight:

(1) A cockpit may have companionways if the companionway openings have watertight doors, or weathertight doors and coamings which meet §179.360 of this subchapter.

(2) A cockpit may have ventilation openings along its inner periphery if the vessel operates only on protected or partially protected waters.

(b) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that operates on exposed or partially protected waters must be at least 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline unless the vessel complies with:

(1) The intact stability requirements of §§170.170, 170.173, 171.050, 171.055, and 171.057 in subchapter S of this chapter;

(2) The Type II subdivision requirements in §§171.070, 171.072, and 171.073 in subchapter S of this chapter; and

(3) The damage stability requirements in §171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter.

(c) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that does not operate on exposed or partially protected waters must be located as high above the deepest load waterline as practicable.

(d) The cockpit must be self-bailing. Scuppers or freeing ports for the cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel must:

(1) Be located to allow rapid clearing of water in all probable conditions of list and trim;

(2) Have a combined drainage area of at least the area required by §178.450 of this part; and

(3) If the deck is less than 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline of the vessel, be fitted with non-return devices.