---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 197.402"
title: "46"
number: "197.402"
heading: "Responsibilities of the person-in-charge."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/197.402"
---

# §197.402. Responsibilities of the person-in-charge.

- (a) **The person-in-charge shall—**
  - (1) Be fully cognizant of the provisions of this subpart;
  - (2) **Prior to permitting any commercial diving operation to commence, have—**
    - (i) The designation of the diving supervisor for each diving operation as required by [§ 197.210](/cfr/46/197.210.md);
    - (ii) **A report on—**
      - (A) The nature and planned times of the planned diving operation; and
      - (B) The planned involvement of the vessel or facility, its equipment, and its personnel in the diving operation.
- (b) Prior to permitting any commercial diving operation involving liveboating to commence, the person-in-charge shall insure that—
  - (1) A means of rapid communications with the diving supervisor while the diver is entering, in, or leaving the water is established; and
  - (2) **A boat and crew for diver pickup in the event of an emergency is provided.**
- (c) The person-in-charge shall insure that a boat and crew for SCUBA diver pickup is provided when SCUBA divers are not line-tended from the dive location.
- (d) The person-in-charge shall coordinate the activities on and of the vessel or facility with the diving supervisor.
- (e) The person-in-charge shall insure that the vessel or facility equipment and personnel are kept clear of the dive location except after coordinating with the diving supervisor.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1509; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703, 6101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

### Source

Source: CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]