46 CFR § 45.73 - Winter freeboard.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s45.73"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 45.73 - Winter freeboard."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "45.73"
section_name: "Winter freeboard."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "E"
subchapter_name: "LOAD LINES"
part_number: "45"
part_name: "GREAT LAKES LOAD LINES"
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. 5104, 5108; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1."
regulatory_source: "CGD 73-49R, 38 FR 12290, May 10, 1973, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "45"
---


# 45.73 Winter freeboard.

The minimum winter freeboard (fw) in inches is obtained by the formula:

*fw*=*f*(*s*) + *T* s (200)/*L*

where:

L = length L in feet but not less than 400 feet.