46 CFR § 42.15-50 - Air pipes.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s42.15-50"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 42.15-50 - Air pipes."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "42.15-50"
section_name: "Air pipes."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "E"
subchapter_name: "LOAD LINES"
part_number: "42"
part_name: "DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VOYAGES BY SEA"
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. 5101-5116; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; section 42.01-5 also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507."
cfr_part: "42"
---


# 42.15-50 Air pipes.

(a) Where air pipes to ballast and other tanks extend above the freeboard or superstructure decks, the exposed parts of the pipes shall be of substantial construction; the height from the deck to the point where water may have access below shall be at least 30 inches on the freeboard deck and 17
1/2 inches on the superstructure deck. Where these heights may interfere with the working of the vessel, a lower height may be approved, provided the assigning authority is satisfied that the closing arrangements and other circumstances justify a lower height. Satisfactory means permanently attached, shall be provided for closing the openings of the air pipes.

[CGFR 68-60, 33 FR 10062, July 12, 1968, as amended by CGFR 68-126, 34 FR 9014, June 5, 1969]