46 CFR § 120.370 - General grounding requirements.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s120.370"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 120.370 - General grounding requirements."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "120.370"
section_name: "General grounding requirements."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "K"
subchapter_name: "SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS CARRYING MORE THAN 150 PASSENGERS OR WITH OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MORE THAN 49 PASSENGERS"
part_number: "120"
part_name: "ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1."
regulatory_source: "CGD 85-080, 61 FR 928, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "120"
---


# 120.370 General grounding requirements.

(a) A vessel's hull must not carry current as a conductor except for the following systems:

(1) Impressed current cathodic protection systems; or

(2) Battery systems for engine starting.

(b) Receptacle outlets and attachment plugs for portable lamps, tools, and similar apparatus operating at 100 volts or more, must have a grounding pole and a grounding conductor in the portable cord.

(c) Each nonmetallic mast and top mast must have a lightning ground conductor.