---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 178.420"
title: "46"
number: "178.420"
heading: "Drainage of cockpit vessels."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/178.420"
---

# §178.420. Drainage of cockpit vessels.

- (a) Except as follows, the cockpit on a cockpit vessel may be watertight:
  - (1) A cockpit may have companionways if the companionway openings have watertight doors, or weathertight doors and coamings which meet [§ 179.360](/cfr/46/179.360.md) of this subchapter.
  - (2) A cockpit may have ventilation openings along its inner periphery if the vessel operates only on protected or partially protected waters.
- (b) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that operates on exposed or partially protected waters must be at least 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline unless the vessel complies with:
  - (1) The intact stability requirements of §§ [170.170](/cfr/46/170.170.md), [170.173](/cfr/46/170.173.md), [171.050](/cfr/46/171.050.md), [171.055](/cfr/46/171.055.md), and [171.057](/cfr/46/171.057.md) in subchapter S of this chapter;
  - (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) in subchapter S of this chapter; and
  - (3) The damage stability requirements in [§ 171.080](/cfr/46/171.080.md) in subchapter S of this chapter.
- (c) The cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel that does not operate on exposed or partially protected waters must be located as high above the deepest load waterline as practicable.
- (d) The cockpit must be self-bailing. Scuppers or freeing ports for the cockpit deck of a cockpit vessel must:
  - (1) Be located to allow rapid clearing of water in all probable conditions of list and trim;
  - (2) Have a combined drainage area of at least the area required by [§ 178.450](/cfr/46/178.450.md) of this part; and
  - (3) If the deck is less than 255 millimeters (10 inches) above the deepest load waterline of the vessel, be fitted with non-return devices.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3703; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

### Source

Source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 966, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.