---identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s174.040"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "46 CFR § 174.040 - Stability requirements: general."title_number: 46title_name: "Shipping"section_number: "174.040"section_name: "Stability requirements: general."chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"subchapter_number: "S"subchapter_name: "SUBDIVISION AND STABILITY"part_number: "174"part_name: "SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO SPECIFIC VESSEL TYPES"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "42 U.S.C. 9118, 9119, 9153; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 174.180 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905."regulatory_source: "CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51048, Nov. 4, 1983, unless otherwise noted."cfr_part: "174"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t46/s174.040
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Authority
42 U.S.C. 9118, 9119, 9153; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 174.180 also issued... 42 U.S.C. 9118, 9119, 9153; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 174.180 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905.
# 174.040 Stability requirements: general.Each unit must be designed to have at least 2 inches (50mm) of positive metacentric height in the upright equilibrium position for the full range of drafts, whether at the operating draft for navigation, towing, or drilling afloat, or at a temporary draft when changing drafts.