---identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s97.16-1"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "46 CFR § 97.16-1 - Use of auto pilot."title_number: 46title_name: "Shipping"section_number: "97.16-1"section_name: "Use of auto pilot."chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"subchapter_number: "I"subchapter_name: "CARGO AND MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS"part_number: "97"part_name: "OPERATIONS"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-04-05"last_updated: "2026-04-05"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 5111, 6101; 49 U.S.C. 5103, 5106; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757; 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1."regulatory_source: "CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 17011, Dec. 30, 1965, unless otherwise noted."cfr_part: "97"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t46/s97.16-1
Currency
2026-04-05
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-04-05
Chapter
Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Authority
33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 5111, 6101; 49 U.S.C. 5103, 5106; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757; 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homelan... 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 5111, 6101; 49 U.S.C. 5103, 5106; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757; 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
# 97.16-1 Use of auto pilot.Except as provided in 33 CFR 164.15, when the automatic pilot is used in—(a) Areas of high traffic density;(b) Conditions of restricted visibility; and(c) All other hazardous navigational situations, the master shall ensure that—(1) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;(2) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control;(3) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer of the watch.[CGD 75-074, 42 FR 5964, Jan. 31, 1977]