🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for small passenger vessels (Subchapter T/K, depending on size and route) • When critical equipment like steering gear and engines must be tested relative to getting underway • Difference between an interval based on calendar time vs. operating schedule/underway periods

💭 Think About

• Think about when a steering failure would be most dangerous and when you’d logically want to verify it still works. • Consider whether the regulation ties the test to a fixed time period (days/weeks/months) or to the vessel’s operating schedule (such as trips or days of operation). • Ask yourself: does the regulation seem designed for rarely used vessels, or for vessels that may run multiple trips in one day?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check 46 CFR sections on steering gear tests for small passenger vessels and see if the trigger is "before getting underway" or a specific time interval. • Verify whether the rule is connected to each day of operation or to a longer recurring interval like a week or month. • Confirm whether the wording focuses on being underway with passengers rather than simply tied to engine running hours.