46 CFR § 120.372 - Equipment and conductor grounding.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s120.372"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 120.372 - Equipment and conductor grounding."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "120.372"
section_name: "Equipment and conductor grounding."
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"
---


# 120.372 Equipment and conductor grounding.

(a) All metallic enclosures and frames of electrical equipment must be permanently grounded to the hull on a metallic vessel. On a nonmetallic vessel, the enclosures and frames of electrical equipment must be bonded together to a common ground by a normally non-current carrying conductor. Metallic cases of instruments and secondary windings of instrument transformers must be grounded.

(b) On a nonmetallic vessel, where a ground plate is provided for radio equipment, it must be connected to the common ground.

(c) Equipment grounding conductors must be sized in accordance with Section 250-95 of the NEC (NFPA 70), or other standard specified by the Commandant.

(d) Each insulated grounding conductor of a cable must be identified by one of the following means.

(1) A green braid or green insulation;

(2) Stripping the insulation from the entire exposed length of the grounding conductor; or

(3) Marking the exposed insulation of the grounding conductor with green tape or green adhesive labels.

(e) Cable armor must not be used to ground electrical equipment of systems.