The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) would like to remind all Subchapter M – Towing Vessel owners and operators that while the phase-in allowance to get your Certificate of Inspection (COI) has past, as of July 19, 2022, there are some other requirements for existing vessels that are a prerequisite prior to obtaining the next Renewal COI.  In accordance with 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §143.200(c) no later than 5 years after the issuance of the first COI for the vessel, all existing towing vessels inspected under Subchapter M must meet the Pilothouse Alerter (46 CFR §143.450) and Towing Machinery requirements (46 CFR §143.460). 

Failure to meet these requirements could result in issuance of a CG-835V vessel deficiency and possibly non-renewal of the 5 year COI per 46 CFR §136.215.

If you have any questions regarding the requirement noted above, or an inspection for your towing vessel, please seek your local Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.  For any questions regarding this blog post, please contact CGCVC@uscg.mil.

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.