(a) All mechanically propelled vessels of 500 gross tons and over shall be fitted with an efficient electronic deep-sea sounding apparatus and another independent means of obtaining deep-sea soundings, which may be a deep-sea hand lead.
[CGFR 67-83, 33 FR 1156, Jan. 27, 1968, as amended by CGD 75-074, 42 FR 5965, Jan. 31, 1977]