46 CFR § 178.420 - Drainage of cockpit vessels.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s178.420"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 178.420 - Drainage of cockpit vessels."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "178.420"
section_name: "Drainage of cockpit vessels."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "T"
subchapter_name: "SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS (UNDER 100 GROSS TONS)"
part_number: "178"
part_name: "INTACT STABILITY AND SEAWORTHINESS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3."
regulatory_source: "CGD 85-080, 61 FR 966, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "178"
---
# 178.420 Drainage of cockpit vessels.
(a) Except as follows, the cockpit on a cockpit vessel may be watertight:
(1) A cockpit may have companionways if the companionway openings have watertight doors, or weathertight doors and coamings which meet § 179.360 of this subchapter.
(2) A cockpit may have ventilation openings along its inner periphery if the vessel operates only on protected or partially protected waters.
(b) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that operates on exposed or partially protected waters must be at least 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline unless the vessel complies with:
(1) The intact stability requirements of §§ 170.170, 170.173, 171.050, 171.055, and 171.057 in subchapter S of this chapter;
(2) The Type II subdivision requirements in §§ 171.070, 171.072, and 171.073 in subchapter S of this chapter; and
(3) The damage stability requirements in § 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter.
(c) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that does not operate on exposed or partially protected waters must be located as high above the deepest load waterline as practicable.
(d) The cockpit must be self-bailing. Scuppers or freeing ports for the cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel must:
(1) Be located to allow rapid clearing of water in all probable conditions of list and trim;
(2) Have a combined drainage area of at least the area required by § 178.450 of this part; and
(3) If the deck is less than 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline of the vessel, be fitted with non-return devices.