33 CFR 146.405: Notice of arrival for vessels at OCS places
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires the owner or operator of a vessel arriving at a place on the OCS to submit an initial notice of arrival (NOA) to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC). The deadline depends on voyage time. The owner or operator must also update the NOA when information becomes inaccurate, with some exceptions.
Applies toThe owner or operator of each vessel subject to this section, except vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.
What it says
The owner or operator must submit an initial NOA to the NVMC, and if the voyage time is more than 96 hours, must do so at least 96 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS from a foreign port or place or from a different OCS block area to engage in OCS activities.
33 CFR 146.405(a)(1)“If the voyage time is more than 96 hours, at least 96 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS from a foreign port or place or from a different OCS block area to engage in OCS activities;”
If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, the owner or operator must submit the initial NOA at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.
33 CFR 146.405(a)(3)“If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.”
The NOA must include the area where the vessel is conducting operations, given as place names, BOEM block numbers, or latitudes and longitudes of the places on the OCS.
33 CFR 146.405(b)(2)“This area can be submitted as either the name of the places, the BOEM block numbers, or the latitudes and longitudes of the places on the OCS where operations are being conducted; and”
When the most recently submitted NOA information becomes inaccurate, the owner or operator must revise and re-submit the NOA within the times required in paragraph (e), unless otherwise specified in this section.
33 CFR 146.405(c)“whenever the most recently submitted NOA information becomes inaccurate, the owner or operator of that vessel must revise and re-submit the NOA within the times required in paragraph (e) of this section.”
The owner or operator does not need to revise and re-submit an NOA for a change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours.
33 CFR 146.405(c)(1)“A change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours;”
The notice must be submitted to the NVMC by electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure format, using methods specified at the NVMC's Web site.
33 CFR 146.405(d)“The notice must be submitted to the NVMC by electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure format using methods specified at the NVMC's Web site”
When a towing vessel controls a vessel required to submit an NOA under this subpart, the towing vessel's owner or operator, or the lead towing vessel's if there is more than one, submits only one NOA covering the towing vessels and the vessel under its control.
33 CFR 146.405(f)“is responsible for submitting only one NOA containing the information required for the towing vessels and the vessel under its control.”
This section does not apply to vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.
33 CFR 146.405(g)“This section does not apply to vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.”
Common questions
How far ahead must I submit an NOA for an OCS arrival if the voyage is under 24 hours?
If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, the NOA must be submitted at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.
“If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.”
Do I have to update an NOA if my arrival time changes slightly?
No update is needed for a change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours.
“A change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours;”
Does the OCS NOA rule apply to vessels just passing through?
No. The section does not apply to vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.
“This section does not apply to vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.”
Who submits the NOA when a towing vessel controls another vessel?
The owner or operator of the towing vessel, or the lead towing vessel if there is more than one, submits only one NOA covering the towing vessels and the vessel under its control.
“is responsible for submitting only one NOA containing the information required for the towing vessels and the vessel under its control.”
The text of 33 CFR 146.405
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Safety and Security notice of arrival for vessels arriving at a place on the OCS
(a) General. The owner or operator of each vessel subject to this section must submit an initial NOA to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC):
(1) If the voyage time is more than 96 hours, at least 96 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS from a foreign port or place or from a different OCS block area to engage in OCS activities;
(2) If the voyage time is less than 96 hours and more than 24 hours, before departure, or;
(3) If the voyage time is less than 24 hours, at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.
(b) Information required in an NOA. The following information is required from the owners or operators of vessels submitting an NOA:
(1) All the information specified in 33 CFR Table 160.206 with the exception of information required in items (2)(iii) through (2)(vi) and item (6). Item (8) is also not required except as pursuant to the laws on vessel entry (19 U.S.C. 1434) and clearance (46 U.S.C. 60105). Vessel owners and operators should protect any personal information they gather in preparing notices for transmittal to the NVMC so as to prevent unauthorized disclosure of that information;
(2) The area in which they are conducting their operations. This area can be submitted as either the name of the places, the BOEM block numbers, or the latitudes and longitudes of the places on the OCS where operations are being conducted; and
(3) If any person onboard, including a crewmember, is not required to carry a passport for travel, then passport information required in Table 160.206, items (4)(iv) through (vi), and (5)(iv) through (vi), need not be provided for that person.
(c) Updates to a submitted NOA. Unless otherwise specified in this section, whenever the most recently submitted NOA information becomes inaccurate, the owner or operator of that vessel must revise and re-submit the NOA within the times required in paragraph (e) of this section. An owner or operator does not need to revise and re-submit an NOA for the following:
(1) A change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours;
(2) Changes in the location, latitude and longitude, of the vessel from the location at the time the NOA was reported; or
(3) Changes to personnel positions or duties on the vessel.
(d) Methods of submission. The notice must be submitted to the NVMC by electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure format using methods specified at the NVMC's Web site at http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov/.
(e) Required reporting time of an NOA update. The owner or operator of each vessel subject to this section must submit an NOA update:
(1) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by 24 hours or more from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the vessel must provide an update as soon as practicable but at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities;
(2) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by less than 24 hours from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the vessel must provide an update as soon as practicable but at least 12 hours before the vessel arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities; or
(3) If the remaining voyage time is less than 24 hours, the owner or operator of the vessel must provide an update as soon as practicable, but at least 12 hours before the vessel arrives at a place on the OCS.
(f) Towing vessels. When a towing vessel controls a vessel required to submit an NOA under this subpart, the owner or operator of the towing vessel, or lead towing vessel if there is more than one, is responsible for submitting only one NOA containing the information required for the towing vessels and the vessel under its control.
(g) This section does not apply to vessels merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.
Sections it refers to
- 33 CFR Table 160.206
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.