---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 171.145"
title: "46"
number: "171.145"
heading: "Drainage of a vessel with a cockpit."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/171.145"
---

# §171.145. Drainage of a vessel with a cockpit.

- (a) Except as follows, the cockpit must be watertight:
  - (1) A cockpit may have companionways if they comply with [§ 171.124(d)](/cfr/46/171.124.md?p=d).
  - (2) A cockpit may have ventilation openings along its inner periphery if—
    - (i) The vessel operates only on protected or partially protected waters;
    - (ii) The ventilation openings are located as high as possible in the side of the cockpit; and
    - (iii) **The height of the ventilation opening does not exceed 2 inches (5 centimeters).**
- (b) The cockpit must be designed to be self-bailing.
- (c) Scuppers installed in a cockpit must be located to allow rapid clearing of water in all probable conditions of list and trim.
- (d) Scuppers must have a combined area of at least the area given by either of the following equations:
- (e) The cockpit deck of a vessel that operates on exposed or partially protected waters must be at least 10 inches (24.5 centimeters) above the deepest subdivision load line, unless the vessel complies with—
  - (1) The intact stability requirements of [§ 171.150](/cfr/46/171.150.md);
  - (2) The Type II subdivision requirements in §§ [171.070](/cfr/46/171.070.md), [171.072](/cfr/46/171.072.md), and [171.073](/cfr/46/171.073.md); and
  - (3) The damage stability requirements in [§ 171.080](/cfr/46/171.080.md).
- (f) The cockpit deck of all vessels that do not operate on exposed or partially protected waters must be located as high above the deepest subdivision load line as practicable.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51354, Sept. 30, 1997]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

### Source

Source: CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51017, Nov. 4, 1983, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51354, Sept. 30, 1997]