---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 173.57"
title: "33"
number: "173.57"
heading: "Contents of report."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/173.57"
---

# §173.57. Contents of report.

- (a) Each report required by [§ 173.55](/cfr/33/173.55.md) of this subpart must be in writing, dated upon completion, and signed by the person who prepared it.
- (b) Each report must contain, if available, at least the following information about the casualty or accident:
  - (1) Number and name of each vessel involved;
  - (2) Name and address of each owner of each vessel involved;
  - (3) Name of the nearest city or town, the county, the State, and the body of water;
  - (4) Time and date the casualty or accident occurred;
  - (5) Location on the water;
  - (6) Visibility, weather, and water conditions;
  - (7) Estimated air and water temperatures;
  - (8) Name, address, age, or date of birth, telephone number, vessel operating experience, and boating safety training of the operator making the report;
  - (9) Name and address of each operator of each vessel involved;
  - (10) Number of persons onboard or towed on skis by each vessel;
  - (11) Name, address, and date of birth of each person injured or killed;
  - (12) Cause of each death;
  - (13) Weather forecasts available to and weather reports used by the operator before and during the use of the vessel;
  - (14) Name and address of each owner of property involved;
  - (15) Availability and use of personal flotation devices;
  - (16) Type and number of each fire extinguisher used;
  - (17) Nature and extent of each injury;
  - (18) Description of all property damage and vessel damage with an estimate of the cost of all repairs;
  - (19) Description of each equipment failure that caused or contributed to the cause of the casualty;
  - (20) Description of the vessel casualty or accident;
  - (21) Type of vessel operation (cruising, drifting, fishing, hunting, skiing, racing, or other), and the type of accident (capsizing, sinking, fire, explosion, or other);
  - (22) Opinion of the person making the report as to the cause of the casualty, including whether or not alcohol or drugs, or both, was a cause of or contributed to causing the casualty.
  - (23) **Characteristics of the reporting operator's vessel, including—**
    - (i) Make;
    - (ii) Model;
    - (iii) **Type—** authorized terms are “air boat”, “auxiliary sail”, “cabin motorboat”, “houseboat”, “inflatable boat”, “open motorboat”, “paddlecraft”, “personal watercraft”, “pontoon boat”, “rowboat”, “sail only”, or “other”;
    - (iv) Beam width at widest point;
    - (v) Overall length of vessel;
    - (vi) Depth from transom to keel;
    - (vii) Horsepower;
    - (viii) **Propulsion—** authorized terms are “air thrust”, “manual”, “propeller”, “sail”, “water jet”, or “other”;
    - (ix) **Fuel—** authorized terms are “electric”, “diesel”, “gas”, or “other”;
    - (x) **Engine drive type—** authorized terms are “inboard”, “outboard”, “pod drive”, “sterndrive”, or “other”;
    - (xi) **Hull material—** authorized terms are “aluminum”, “fiberglass”, “plastic”, “rubber/vinyl/canvas”, “steel”, “wood”, or “other”; and
    - (xii) Model year;
  - (24) Name, address, and telephone number of each witness;
  - (25) Manufacturer's hull identification number, if any, of the reporting operator's vessel; and
  - (26) **Name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the report.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14963, 77 FR 18700, Mar. 28, 2012, as amended at USCG-2021-0348, 87 FR 3223, Jan. 21, 2022]

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2110, 6101, 12301, 12302; OMB Circular A-25; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14963, 77 FR 18700, Mar. 28, 2012, as amended at USCG-2021-0348, 87 FR 3223, Jan. 21, 2022]