Regulations last checked for updates: Feb 11, 2026

Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Jan 15, 2026
§ 131.850 - Rudder orders.

At each steering station there must be installed a suitable notice on the wheel or lever, or in some other place directly in the helmsman's line of sight, to indicate the direction in which to turn the wheel or lever for “right rudder” and for “left rudder.”

authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306,6101,10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Section 131.990 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905
source: CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49340, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 131.850