---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 173.055"
title: "46"
number: "173.055"
heading: "Watertight subdivision and damage stability standards for existing sailing school vessels."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/173.055"
---

# §173.055. Watertight subdivision and damage stability standards for existing sailing school vessels.

- (a) Except as provided in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, an existing sailing school vessel which carries more than 49 persons must be fitted with a collision bulkhead and any additional bulkheads necessary to provide one compartment subdivision.
- (b) Except as provided in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, an existing sailing school vessel which has a mean length greater than 65 feet (19.8 meters), must be fitted with additional transverse watertight bulkheads necessary to provide one compartment subdivision, when the following Subdivision Numerals are exceeded:
  - (1) **For vessels to be operated on Exposed Waters—**
  - (2) **For vessels to be operated on Partially Protected Waters—**
  - (3) **For vessels to be operated on Protected Waters—**
- (c) An existing sailing school vessel which is required to meet a one compartment subdivision standard and has a mean length of 90 feet (27.4 meters) or less may, instead of one compartment subdivision, be fitted with a collision bulkhead and sufficient air tankage or other internal buoyancy to maintain the fully-loaded vessel afloat with positive stability in the flooded condition.
- (d) Except as provided in [paragraph (e)](#e) of this section, an existing sailing school vessel which has a mean length greater than 65 feet (19.8 meters) must be fitted with a collision bulkhead.
- (e) On an existing sailing school vessel, operating on protected waters, which has a mean length of 90 feet (27.4 meters) or less with no other requirement for subdivision, the collision bulkhead may be omitted.
- (f) An existing sailing school vessel, operating on exposed waters, which has a mean length of 65 feet (19.8 meters) or less and is carrying more than 15 persons, must be fitted with a collision bulkhead.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 83-005, 51 FR 924, Jan. 9, 1986]

### Authority

Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2113, 3306, 5115; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

### Source

Source: CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51045, Nov. 4, 1983, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 83-005, 51 FR 924, Jan. 9, 1986]