33 CFR 151.27: Oil pollution emergency plan submission and approval
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers how owners and operators submit shipboard oil pollution emergency plans to the Coast Guard and how the Coast Guard approves them. A manned ship subject to this part may not operate without an approved plan on board. Approval expires 5 years after the approval date.
Applies toManned and unmanned ships subject to this part, and their owners or operators.
What it says
No manned ship subject to this part may operate unless it carries on board a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan approved by the Coast Guard.
33 CFR 151.27(a)“No manned ship subject to this part may operate unless it carries on board a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan approved by the Coast Guard.”
An unmanned ship must carry the notification list required in § 151.26(b)(3) in the documentation container, and must keep the remaining sections of the plan on file at the home office.
33 CFR 151.27(a)“An unmanned ship subject to this regulation must carry the notification list required in § 151.26(b)(3) on board in the documentation container”
For new ships, plans must be submitted at least 90 days before the ship intends to begin operations.
33 CFR 151.27(a)“For new ships, plans must be submitted at least 90 days before the ship intends to begin operations.”
An owner or operator with multiple ships may submit one plan for each type of ship, with a separate ship-specific appendix for each vessel covered by the plan.
33 CFR 151.27(c)“may submit one plan for each type of ship with a separate ship-specific appendix for each vessel covered by the plan.”
Combined shipboard oil pollution emergency plans and response plans meeting the requirements of subparts D and E of part 155 of this chapter must be prepared according to § 155.1030(j) of this chapter.
33 CFR 151.27(d)“must be prepared according to § 155.1030(j) of this chapter.”
If the Coast Guard determines that the plan meets the requirements, it will issue an approval letter. The approval period expires 5 years after the approval date.
33 CFR 151.27(e)“The approval period for a plan expires 5 years after the approval date.”
If the plan does not meet the requirements, the owner or operator must resubmit the revised plan or corrected portions within the time period specified in the Coast Guard's written notice.
33 CFR 151.27(f)“The owner or operator must then resubmit a copy of the revised plan or the corrected portions of the plan, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard.”
Common questions
How long is a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan approval valid?
The approval period expires 5 years after the approval date.
“The approval period for a plan expires 5 years after the approval date.”
How far ahead must a new ship submit its oil pollution emergency plan?
For new ships, plans must be submitted at least 90 days before the ship intends to begin operations.
“For new ships, plans must be submitted at least 90 days before the ship intends to begin operations.”
What happens if the Coast Guard finds my plan deficient?
The Coast Guard will notify the owner or operator of the deficiency. The owner or operator must then resubmit the revised plan or corrected portions within the time period in the written notice.
“the Coast Guard will notify the owner or operator of the plan's deficiency.”
Can one plan cover several ships?
Yes. An owner or operator with multiple ships may submit one plan for each type of ship, with a separate ship-specific appendix for each vessel.
“An owner or operator with multiple ships to which this part applies may submit one plan for each type of ship”
The text of 33 CFR 151.27
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Plan submission and approval
(a) No manned ship subject to this part may operate unless it carries on board a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan approved by the Coast Guard. An unmanned ship subject to this regulation must carry the notification list required in § 151.26(b)(3) on board in the documentation container; remaining sections of the plan must be maintained on file at the home office. For new ships, plans must be submitted at least 90 days before the ship intends to begin operations.
(b) An owner or operator of a ship to which this part applies shall prepare and submit one English language copy of the shipboard oil pollution emergency plan electronically at https://vrp.uscg.mil/homeport-vrp/vrp-express/ by signing in using the registered email address and password or by email to vrp@uscg.mil. For new user registrations, please follow the process provided in the United States Coast Guard Homeport website at https://homeport.uscg.mil/Pages/NewUserRegistration.aspx.or by mail to Commandant (CG-MER), Attn: Vessel Response Plans, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20593-7501.
(c) An owner or operator with multiple ships to which this part applies may submit one plan for each type of ship with a separate ship-specific appendix for each vessel covered by the plan.
(d) Combined shipboard oil pollution emergency plans and response plans meeting the requirements of subparts D and E of part 155 of this chapter must be prepared according to § 155.1030(j) of this chapter.
(e) If the Coast Guard determines that the plan meets the requirements of this section, the Coast Guard will issue an approval letter. The approval period for a plan expires 5 years after the approval date.
(f) If the Coast Guard determines that the plan does not meet the requirements, the Coast Guard will notify the owner or operator of the plan's deficiency. The owner or operator must then resubmit a copy of the revised plan or the corrected portions of the plan, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard.
(g) Plans, including revisions, should be submitted electronically by using the Vessel Response Plan Electronic Submission Tool available at https://vrp.uscg.mil/homeport-vrp/vrp-express/ for registered users or by mail to Commandant (CG-MER), Attn: Vessel Response Plans, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7516, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20593-7516 or by email to vrp@uscg.mil.
Sections it refers to
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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.