🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR Subchapter M – which towing vessels it applies to • How fire protection rules treat government-owned vessels • Whether being used only in a limited service area (inland, fleeting area, pollution response) changes applicability

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Are fire protection rules mainly tied to who owns the vessel or what kind of service the vessel is engaged in? • Consider which of these four options is most likely to be explicitly exempt from many civilian inspection and equipment regulations. • Think about whether a small operating area (like a barge fleeting area or pollution response zone) automatically removes a tug from needing fire protection gear.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which vessels are specifically excluded from Subchapter M and related fire protection requirements in 46 CFR. • Check if U.S. government vessels follow the same inspection and equipment rules as commercial towing vessels. • Confirm whether operating only on inland waters or within a fleeting area is enough, by itself, to avoid fire protection requirements.