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Watch Monitoring Devices on Small Passenger Vessels, Interim Rule Clarification

Aug. 5, 2025

On December 27, 2021, the Coast Guard published an interim final rule: Fire Safety of Small Passenger Vessels, Interim Rule, Federal Register 73160, December 27, 2021 (link).  This interim final rule applies to covered small passenger vessels (CPSVs) with overnight accommodations for passengers and includes requirements for the installation and arrangement of watch monitoring devices.

The Coast Guard’s Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG) recently published “Watch Monitoring Devices on Small Passenger Vessels Interim Rule Clarification," which includes updates to this interim final rule. This policy letter promotes consistent implementation and enforcement of watch monitoring device requirements contained in the interim final rule. Specifically, this policy clarifies that monitoring devices must be arranged to ensure the wakefulness of all watchmen but that the devices are not required to be physically arranged with coverage throughout all spaces monitored by the watch. 

The maintenance and arrangement of watch monitoring devices, and a suitable number of watchmen, is vital to the safety of CSPVs. Vessel operators should consider the size, arrangement and operation of the vessel when installing or modifying watch monitoring systems.  Final approval of system arrangements remains to the satisfaction of the OCMI. 

A copy of CG-ENG Policy Letter 02- 25 is available on CG-ENG’s website (link.)

Vessel owners or operators should contact their local marine inspection office with vessel-specific questions (directory). General questions may be submitted via CGENG@uscg.mil.

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This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official publications, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These publications remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.