CFR > Title 46 - Shipping > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER T—SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS (UNDER 100 GROSS TONS) (parts 175 to 186) > PART 178—INTACT STABILITY AND SEAWORTHINESS > SUBPART D—Drainage of Weather Decks (§178.410 to §178.450) > 178.420—Drainage of cockpit vessels.

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 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, 170.173, 171.050, 171.055, and 171.057 in subchapter S of this chapter;
(2) The Type II subdivision requirements in §§ 171.070, 171.072, and 171.073 in subchapter S of this chapter; and
(3) The damage stability requirements in § 171.080 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 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.