🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR Subchapter M requirements for towing vessel equipment and repairs • Difference between OCMI (Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection) and COTP (Captain of the Port) roles • What a Master is allowed to do temporarily when required navigation equipment fails

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Does the regulation usually require you to stop operating immediately, or to continue under certain conditions and notify a specific authority within a time limit? • Think about which Coast Guard authority you routinely notify for equipment casualties on inspected vessels in your zone, and what typical time frames (hours, not days) are used. • Consider whether the rules require you to physically secure the vessel (anchor/moor), or whether administrative notification and possible operating restrictions are more realistic in busy towing operations.

✅ Before You Answer

• Check in 46 CFR Part 140–144 (Subchapter M) for language about towing vessels operating with inoperative radar or other required nav equipment. • Verify which authority – OCMI vs COTP – is named in the regulation dealing with casualties or equipment failures on inspected towing vessels. • Confirm the time limit in hours given in the regulation; compare 48 vs 96 hours and see which one actually appears.