{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-178.420","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 178.420","heading":"Drainage of cockpit vessels.","body":"(a) Except as follows, the cockpit on a cockpit vessel may be watertight:\n(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.\n(2) A cockpit may have ventilation openings along its inner periphery if the vessel operates only on protected or partially protected waters.\n(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:\n(1) The intact stability requirements of §§ 170.170, 170.173, 171.050, 171.055, and 171.057 in subchapter S of this chapter;\n(2) The Type II subdivision requirements in §§ 171.070, 171.072, and 171.073 in subchapter S of this chapter; and\n(3) The damage stability requirements in § 171.080 in subchapter S of this chapter.\n(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.\n(d) The cockpit must be self-bailing. Scuppers or freeing ports for the cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel must:\n(1) Be located to allow rapid clearing of water in all probable conditions of list and trim;\n(2) Have a combined drainage area of at least the area required by § 178.450 of this part; and\n(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.","path":["Title 46—Shipping","CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","SUBCHAPTER T—SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS (UNDER 100 GROSS TONS)","PART 178—INTACT STABILITY AND SEAWORTHINESS","Subpart D—Drainage of Weather Decks"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-46.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:22Z","sha256":"940bce28461ec737d3676233418bd2f61c29967e8baf89cc1a6f5c545c3c3a9e","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-178.410","next":"us/46-cfr-178.430"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}