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46 CFR § 199.610 - Exemptions for vessels in specified services.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s199.610"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 199.610 - Exemptions for vessels in specified services."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "199.610"
section_name: "Exemptions for vessels in specified services."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "W"
subchapter_name: "LIFESAVING APPLIANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS"
part_number: "199"
part_name: "LIFESAVING SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN INSPECTED VESSELS"
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. 3306, 3703; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25313, May 20, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "199"
---

# 199.610 Exemptions for vessels in specified services.

(a) *All vessels.* Vessels operating in coastwise, Great Lakes, lakes, bays and sounds, and rivers services are exempt from requirements in subparts A through E of this part as specified in table 199.610(a) of this section.

Table 199.610(**a**)—Exemptions for All Vessels in Specified Services

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 199.60(c): Distress signals | () | () | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(a)(3)(iii): Lifebuoys fitted with smoke signals | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(b)(1)(i): Carriage of additional child-size lifejackets | () | () | () | () |
| 199.70(b)(4)(i): Lifejacket lights (for lifejackets) | () | () | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(c)(4)(i): Lifejacket lights (for immersion suits) | () | () | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(b)(4)(ii): Lifejacket whistles | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(c): Immersion suits for rescue boat crew members | Not Exempt | Not Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.70(c)(4)(ii): Immersion suit whistles | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.100(c)(1): Requirements for person-in-charge of survival craft | Not Exempt | Not Exempt | Not Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.100(d): Designation of second-in-command of lifeboat | () | () | () | Exempt. |
| 199.110(f): Embarkation ladders at launching stations | () | () | () | () |
| 199.130(a)(4): Survival craft stowage position | Not Exempt | Not Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.170: Line-throwing appliance | Not Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.175(b)(21)(i)(G) or 199.640(j)(4)(iii)(E): Float-free link | () | () | () | () |
| 199.190(j): Renewal of survival craft falls | Not Exempt | () | () | () |
| 199.202 or 199.262 Rescue boats | () | () | () | () |
| 199.510: EPIRB requirement | () | () | Exempt | Exempt. |
|  |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel operates on a route with a duration of 30 minutes or less. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel does not carry persons smaller than the lower size limit of the lifejackets carried. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel is a ferry or has no overnight accommodations. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the lifeboat has a carrying capacity of less than 40 persons. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the distance is less than 3 meters (10 feet) from the embarkation deck to the water with the vessel in its lightest seagoing operating condition. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel operates on a route on which the water depth is never more than the length of the painter. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel operates on a fresh water route and inspection shows that the falls are not damaged by corrosion. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel is non-self propelled and in tow, moored to or alongside a MODU or a self-propelled vessel, or moored to shore. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel is a cargo vessel under 300 tons gross tonnage and operates on a route no more than 3 nautical miles from shore. |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel operates on a route no more than 3 nautical miles from shore. |  |  |  |  |

(b) *Passenger vessels.* In addition to the exemptions in paragraph (a) of this section, passenger vessels operating in coastwise; Great Lakes; lakes, bays, and sounds; and rivers service are exempt from requirements in subparts A through E of this part as specified in table 199.610(b) of this section.

Table 199.610(**b**)—Exemptions for Passenger Vessels in Specified Services

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 199.203: Marshalling of liferafts | Not Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.211(b): Lights on lifebuoys | () | () | () | () |
| 199.212(a): Carriage of additional five percent lifejackets | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
| 199.214: Immersion suits and thermal protective aids in lifeboats | Not Exempt | Not Exempt | Exempt | Exempt. |
|  |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the length of vessel is under 60 meters (197 feet) and there are self-igniting lights attached to at least one-half the required lifebuoys. |  |  |  |  |

(c) *Cargo vessels.* In addition to the exemptions in paragraph (a) of this section, cargo vessels are exempt from requirements in subparts A through E of this part as specified in table 199.610(c) of this section.

Table 199.610(**c**)—Exemptions for Cargo Vessels in Specified Services

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 199.70(a)(3)(ii): Lights on lifebuoys | Not exempt | () | () | () | () |
| 199.80(b): Muster list | () | () | () | () | () |
| 199.262(a): Rescue boats | () | () | () | () | () |
| 199.273: Immersion suits | Not exempt | Not exempt | Not exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the length of vessel is under 30 meters (99 feet). |  |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if the vessel is under 500 tons gross tonnage. |  |  |  |  |  |
| Exempt if—(i) the OCMI determines the vessel is arranged to allow a helpless person to be recovered from the water. |  |  |  |  |  |
| (ii) recovery of the helpless person can be observed from the navigating bridge; and |  |  |  |  |  |
| (iii) the vessel does not regularly engage in operations that restrict its maneuverability. |  |  |  |  |  |

[CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25313, May 20, 1996, as amended at 63 FR 52819, Oct. 1, 1998; USCG-1999-6216, 64 FR 53229, Oct. 1, 1999; USCG-2000-7790, 65 FR 58465, Sept. 29, 2000]