46 CFR § 138.100 - Purpose.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s138.100"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 138.100 - Purpose."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "138.100"
section_name: "Purpose."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "M"
subchapter_name: "TOWING VESSELS"
part_number: "138"
part_name: "TOWING SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TSMS)"
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. 3103, 3301, 3306, 3308, 3316, 8104, 8904; 33 CFR 1.05; DHS Delegation 0170.1."
regulatory_source: "81 FR 40101, June 20, 2016, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "138"
---


# 138.100 Purpose.

The purpose of this part is to prescribe requirements for owners or managing operators of towing vessels who adopt a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) under this subchapter.