Regulations last checked for updates: May 03, 2025

Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters last revised: Apr 29, 2025
§ 401.14 - Anchors, anchor marking buoys.

(a) Every vessel shall have their anchors cleared and have the anchor marking buoys free to deploy (weak link to hold buoy line onboard) with the buoy lines firmly secured to each anchor, and ready to be released prior to entering the Seaway.

(b) Every vessel shall deploy the anchor marking buoy when dropping an anchor in Seaway waters (designated Seaway anchorages exempt).

(c) Every vessel shall be equipped with operational anchor(s) suitably rigged for immediate release, holding, and retrieval. Every vessel shall be responsible for locating and retrieving any anchor deployed by the vessel and shall do so in a timely manner so as not to delay transit of vessels.

[79 FR 12659, Mar. 6, 2014, as amended at 85 FR 15950, Mar. 20, 2020; 86 FR 15412, Mar. 23, 2021; 88 FR 14267, Mar. 8, 2023; 90 FR 1882, Jan. 10, 2025]
cite as: 33 CFR 401.14