46 CFR § 177.300 - Structural design.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s177.300"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 177.300 - Structural design."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "177.300"
section_name: "Structural design."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "T"
subchapter_name: "SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS (UNDER 100 GROSS TONS)"
part_number: "177"
part_name: "CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT"
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. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 85-080, 61 FR 961, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "177"
---


# 177.300 Structural design.

Except as otherwise allowed by this subpart, a vessel must comply with the structural design requirements of one of the standards listed below for the hull material of the vessel.

(a) Wooden hull vessels: Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);

(b) Steel hull vessels:

(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or

(2) ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters)(incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);

(c) Fiber reinforced plastic vessels:

(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft;

(2) ABS Plastic Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600); or

(3) ABS High Speed Craft (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);

(d) Aluminum hull vessels:

(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or

(i) For a vessel of more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600); or

(ii) For a vessel of not more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters), with the appropriate conversions from the ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules; or

(2) ABS High Speed Craft;

(e) Steel hull vessels operating in protected waters: ABS Steel Vessel Rules (Rivers/Intracoastal) (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600).

[USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65205, Oct. 31, 2008]