CFR > Title 46 - Shipping > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER H—PASSENGER VESSELS (parts 70 to 81) > PART 78—OPERATIONS > SUBPART 78.19—Auto Pilot (§78.19-1 to §78.19-1) > 78.19-1—Use of auto pilot.

78.19-1—Use of auto pilot.

Except as provided in 33 CFR 164.15, when the automatic pilot is used in—
(a) Areas of high traffic density;
(b) Conditions of restricted visibility; and
(c) All other hazardous navigational situations, the master shall ensure that—
(1) It is possible to immediately establish manual control of the ship's steering;
(2) A competent person is ready at all times to take over steering control; and
(3) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa is made by, or under, the supervision of the officer of the watch.
[CGD 75-074, 42 FR 5963, Jan. 31, 1977]