What is the minimum bilge pump capacity for a 60-foot passenger vessel certificated to carry 33 persons?

• A. 5 gpm
• B. 10 gpm
• C. 15 gpm
• D. 20 gpm

Answer: (B)

On a passenger vessel, you must be able to remove water from the bilge quickly enough to prevent flooding from ordinary leaks or rough conditions. The minimum bilge pump capacity is set based on the vessel’s size and occupancy, to ensure a practical rate of water removal in an emergency.

For a 60-foot vessel certificated to carry 33 people, the required minimum is 10 gallons per minute. That rate (about 600 gallons per hour) strikes a balance: it’s large enough to handle typical water ingress without being excessive or impractical for this size vessel. A smaller capacity like 5 gpm could be overwhelmed by even modest water intrusion, while 15 or 20 gpm would exceed the minimum standard. So 10 gpm is the regulatory baseline for this vessel class.