46 CFR § 131.870 - Life floats and buoyant apparatus.
---identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s131.870"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "46 CFR § 131.870 - Life floats and buoyant apparatus."title_number: 46title_name: "Shipping"section_number: "131.870"section_name: "Life floats and buoyant apparatus."chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"subchapter_number: "L"subchapter_name: "OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS"part_number: "131"part_name: "OPERATIONS"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101, 10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Section 131.990 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905."regulatory_source: "CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49340, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted."cfr_part: "131"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t46/s131.870
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Authority
33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101, 10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Section 131.990 also issued... 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101, 10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Section 131.990 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905.
# 131.870 Life floats and buoyant apparatus.(a) The name of the vessel must be plainly marked or painted on each life float or buoyant apparatus, and on each oar and paddle.(b) The number of persons each life float or buoyant apparatus is approved for must be plainly marked or painted on each float or apparatus in letters and numbers at least 38 millimeters (1-1/2 inches) high and in a color contrasting to that of the float or apparatus. This number must—(1) Be the number of persons the float or apparatus is equipped for; and(2) Not be greater than the number of persons the float or apparatus is approved for, as shown on its nameplate.