USCG Load Line Regulations and Policies
(46 CFR parts 42--47)
(46 USC chapter 51)
Overview
The principal Coast Guard office responsible for load line regulations and policy is the Naval Architecture Division (CG-ENG-2).
In general, most commercial U.S. vessels more than 79 feet (24 m) in length must have a valid load line certificate when venturing outside the U.S. Boundary Line, whether on a domestic or international voyage (even on "voyages to nowhere" that return to the same domestic port of departure). There are a few limited categories of vessels excluded from needing a load line; refer to 46 USC 5102 for specifics.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, Congress revoked the previous categorical load line exclusion for new fishing vessels. Accordingly, fishing vessels built on/after July 1st, 2012, that are more than 79 feet in length (as measured by load line rules) and that venture outside the Boundary Line, are required to have a load line.
The purpose of load line assignment is to ensure the seaworthiness of the intact (undamaged) vessel. This is accomplished by:
- Ensuring a robust hull that can withstand severe sea conditions
(i.e., structural design, construction, and maintenance)
- Ensuring weathertight & watertight integrity
(i.e., coamings; exposed doors, hatches, hull valves, etc, are in good working condition)
- Ensuring that the vessel has reserve buoyancy and is not overloaded
(by limiting the maximum loaded draft)
- Ensuring that the vessel has adequate stability for all loading & operating conditions
(by approved stability documentation & instructions)
- Ensuring rapid drainage of water on deck (boarding seas)
(by adequate arrangement of freeing ports in bulwarks)
- Ensuring safety of crew while working on deck
(by increased freeboard to reduce boarding seas, guardrails)
- Ensuring that modifications to vessel do not compromise seaworthiness
(modifications must be approved by LL assigning authority)
- Periodic inspections (afloat and drydocked) to verify that the above are properly maintained
(by LL assigning authority)
Domestic load line certificates are generally issued by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) on behalf of the Coast Guard.
International load line certificates for U.S. vessels, in accordance with the IMO International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL), are issued by the American Bureau of Shipping, or the vessel's classification society (if specifically approved by the Coast Guard).
The Coast Guard itself does not issue load line certificates other than a "single voyage load line exemption certificate." This allows a non-load line vessel to make a "positioning voyage" (transit from one port to another) to relocate to a new place of work or go into a shipyard for an overhaul. Such exemption certificates are issued by the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) at the port of departure. "Round trip" exemptions are not issued; the return voyage requires a new exemptiom certificate issued by the local MSU.
U.S. vessel owners and operators are subject to fines and penalties if a vessel is operated in violation of load line regulations (including cargo overloading that submerges the load line marks); refer to 46 USC 5116 for details. Foreign vessels in U.S. waters are required to have an international (ICLL) load line certificate, and may be detained in port if the Coast Guard determines that the vessel is unseaworthy.
Origin of Load Lines
Historically, the concept of a load line evolved during the 1870s in Great Britain to guard against merchant ships being overloaded. Lloyd's Register established a minimum freeboard requirement for its classed ships, to ensure that a ship had good reserve buoyancy in heavy boarding seas. After considerable persuasive efforts by Samuel Plimsoll, Parliament extended the requirement to all British merchant ships; thus was born the "Plimsoll mark."
Similar load line requirements were adopted by other maritime nations, until they were internationally standardized in the Load Line Convention of 1930. The present International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL) was drawn up in 1966 and entered into force on July 21, 1968. It is periodically amended via the Load Line Protocol of 1988 (in force since February 3, 2000). The Convention and it's Protocol are administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. Vessels of countries signatory to the Convention are required to have an ICLL certificate for international voyages. As of January 2011, 159 countries (representing 99.02% of world tonnage) are signatory the 1966 ICLL, and 92 countries (representing 94.53% of world tonnage) are signatory to the 1988 LL Protocol.
The United States is a signatory to both the original 1966 ICLL and the 1988 LL Protocol, and therefore U.S. vessels engaged on international voyages are subject to the Convention, as modified by the Protocol.
Load line regulations for U.S. vessels operating solely on domestic routes are developed by the Coast Guard, and reflect the less-severe operating environments of coastwise service. Special load line standards apply to vessels operating on certain coastwise routes and on the Great Lakes.
USCG Load Line Regulations and Policy Documents
46 CFR Subchapter E, "Load Lines" (parts 41 thru 47)
The current U.S. load line regulations (domestic and international) are found in 46 CFR Subchapter E, "Load Lines" (parts 42 thru 47), which can be accessed through the GPO Access database (scroll down the table to "Title 46" and select the current year).The statutory basis for the regulations comes from chapter 51 of Title 46 of the U.S. Code (46 USC chapter 51). However, some of the CFR regulations have been superceded by the recodification of 46 USC in 1988, which revamped certain load line requirements (particularly vessel applicability and penalties for overloading). Therefore, until the CFR regulations are revised, 46 USC chapter 51 must also be consulted.
For international (ICLL) load lines, the CFR regulations incorporate the original requirements of the 1966 ICLL. However, the regulations have not yet updated with respect to recent ICLL revisions. Therefore, the ICLL Protocol must be consulted for the most-current international requirements.
Marine Safety Manual, Vol. IV, Chapter 6.F, "Load Lines"
This chapter of the Marine Safety Manual presents policies and guidance on various load line issues. However, this chapter has not been updated since 1990; therefore, the "Load Line Policy Notes" below must be consulted for later information. This volume of the MSM is posted at www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16000_9.pdf.Marine Safety Manual, Vol. V, Chapter 11, "Load Line Violation Investigation"
This chapter of the Marine Safety Manual presents direction to Coast Guard officials on the investigation of suspected load line violations. This chapter was updated in April, 2008, and supercedes the previous investigation chapter. This volume of the MSM is posted at www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16000_10A.pdf."Load Line Technical Manual"
The Load Line Technical Manual sets forth the technical procedures for evaluating, calculating and assigning international ICLL load lines, using USCG and ABS policies where the Convention leaves certain requirements "to the satisfaction of the Administration" or is open to interpretation. It covers USCG policy up to 1990."Load Line Policy Notes"
The Load Line Policy Notes encompass all the current USCG load line policies that have evolved since the previous revision of the MSM Chapter 6.F and the LL Technical Manual. The Policy Notes also discuss the various domestic U.S. load line regimes (i.e., special service, Great Lakes, subdivision load lines for passenger vessels, etc.).Load Line NVICs
A Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) provides detailed guidance about the enforcement or compliance with a certain Federal marine safety regulations and Coast Guard marine safety programs. The index of published NVICs is posted at www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic.The following NVICs specifically pertain to load lines:
| NVIC | Title |
|---|---|
7-94 |
Guidance on the Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 |
8-91 |
Initial & Subsequent Inspection of Uncertificated Offshore Supply Vessels, Including Liftboats |
1-88 |
International Load Line Certificates for Small Passenger Vessels Operating Within 20 Miles of the Mouth of a Harbor of Safe Refuge (Change 1) |
1-88 |
International Load Line Certificates for Small Passenger Vessels Operating Within 20 Miles of the Mouth of a Harbor of Safe Refuge |
10-86 |
Equivalence to Minimum Bow Height Requirements for Load Line Assignment |
8-86 |
Coast Guard Relationships with Classification Societies for U.S. Flag Vessels |
Contact the Naval Architecture Division:
-
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters (CG-ENG-2)
2100 Second Street S.W. -- Mail stop 7126
Washington, D.C. 20593-7126
(202) 372-1370
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