---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 177.300"
title: "46"
number: "177.300"
heading: "Structural design."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/177.300"
---

# §177.300. Structural design.


Except as otherwise allowed by this subpart, a vessel must comply with the structural design requirements of one of the standards listed below for the hull material of the vessel.

- (a) **Wooden hull vessels—** Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft (incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md));
- (b) **Steel hull vessels—**
  - (1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or
  - (2) ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters)(incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md));
- (c) **Fiber reinforced plastic vessels—**
  - (1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft;
  - (2) ABS Plastic Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md)); or
  - (3) ABS High Speed Craft (incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md));
- (d) **Aluminum hull vessels—**
  - (1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or
    - (i) For a vessel of more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md)); or
    - (ii) For a vessel of not more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters), with the appropriate conversions from the ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules; or
  - (2) ABS High Speed Craft;
- (e) **Steel hull vessels operating in protected waters—** ABS Steel Vessel Rules (Rivers/Intracoastal) (incorporated by reference, see [46 CFR 175.600](/cfr/46/175.600.md)).

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65205, Oct. 31, 2008]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 961, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65205, Oct. 31, 2008]