46 CFR § 128.130 - Vital systems.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s128.130"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 128.130 - Vital systems."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "128.130"
section_name: "Vital systems."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "L"
subchapter_name: "OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS"
part_number: "128"
part_name: "MARINE ENGINEERING: EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 3306; sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1."
regulatory_source: "CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49331, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "128"
---


# 128.130 Vital systems.

(a) Vital systems are those systems that are vital to a vessel's survivability and safety. For the purpose of this subchapter, the following are vital systems:

(1) Systems for fill, transfer, and service of fuel oil.

(2) Fire-main systems.

(3) Fixed gaseous fire-extinguishing systems.

(4) Bilge systems.

(5) Ballast systems.

(6) Steering systems and steering-control systems.

(7) Propulsion systems and their necessary auxiliaries and control systems.

(8) Systems for transfer and control of cargo, for integral tanks or fixed independent tanks, in compliance with § 125.110 of this subchapter.

(9) Ship's service and emergency electrical-generation systems and their auxiliaries vital to the vessel's survivability and safety.

(10) Any other marine-engineering system identified by the cognizant OCMI as crucial to the survival of the vessel or to the protection of the personnel aboard.

(b) For the purpose of this subchapter, a system not identified by paragraph (a) of this section is a non-vital system.