46 CFR § 141.330 - Skiffs as survival craft.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s141.330"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 141.330 - Skiffs as survival craft."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "141.330"
section_name: "Skiffs as survival craft."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "M"
subchapter_name: "TOWING VESSELS"
part_number: "141"
part_name: "LIFESAVING"
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. 3103, 3301, 3306, 3308, 3316, 8104, 8904; 33 CFR 1.05; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "USCG-2006-24412, 81 FR 40101, June 20, 2016, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "141"
---


# 141.330 Skiffs as survival craft.

A skiff may be substituted for all or part of the approved survival craft for towing vessels that do not operate more than 3 miles from shore. A skiff used as a survival craft does not require Coast Guard approval but must:

(a) Be capable of being launched within 5 minutes under all circumstances;

(b) Be of suitable size for all persons on board the towing vessel;

(c) Not exceed the loading specified on the capacity plate required by 33 CFR 183.23;

(d) Not contain modifications affecting the buoyancy or structure of the skiff;

(e) Be of suitable design for the vessel's intended service; and

(f) Be marked in accordance with §§ 199.176 and 199.178 of this chapter.