33 CFR 155.1062: Inspection and maintenance of response equipment
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers inspection and maintenance of response resources listed in a vessel response plan. The owner or operator must ensure major equipment is periodically inspected and kept in good operating condition, and that records are kept for 3 years. The Coast Guard may verify equipment and records.
Applies toThe owner or operator of a vessel required to submit a response plan under this part.
What it says
The owner or operator must ensure that containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan are periodically inspected and maintained in good operating condition, following manufacturer's recommendations and best commercial practices.
33 CFR 155.1062(a)(1)“Containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan are periodically inspected and maintained in good operating condition, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and best commercial practices; and”
The owner or operator must ensure that all inspections and maintenance are documented and that these records are maintained for 3 years.
33 CFR 155.1062(a)(2)“All inspections and maintenance are documented and that these records are maintained for 3 years.”
The Coast Guard may verify that the equipment inventories exist as represented.
33 CFR 155.1062(b)(1)“Verify that the equipment inventories exist as represented;”
The Coast Guard may verify that the records of inspection and maintenance reflect the actual condition of any equipment listed or referenced.
33 CFR 155.1062(b)(3)“Verify that the records of inspection and maintenance reflect the actual condition of any equipment listed or referenced; and”
The Coast Guard may inspect equipment and require operational tests of it.
33 CFR 155.1062(b)(4)“Inspect and require operational tests of equipment.”
This section does not apply to listed or referenced major equipment that is ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal organization, as described in the definition of "contract or other approved means" at § 155.1020.
33 CFR 155.1062(c)“This section does not apply to containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan and ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal organization”
Common questions
How long must response equipment inspection records be kept?
Records of all inspections and maintenance must be documented and maintained for 3 years.
“All inspections and maintenance are documented and that these records are maintained for 3 years.”
What can the Coast Guard do to check response equipment?
The Coast Guard may verify inventories and records, and it may inspect equipment and require operational tests.
“Inspect and require operational tests of equipment.”
Does the inspection requirement apply to equipment provided by an oil spill removal organization?
No, not when the equipment is ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal organization, as described in the definition of "contract or other approved means" at § 155.1020.
“This section does not apply to containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan and ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal organization”
The text of 33 CFR 155.1062
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Inspection and maintenance of response resources
(a) The owner or operator of a vessel required to submit a response plan under this part must ensure that—
(1) Containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan are periodically inspected and maintained in good operating condition, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and best commercial practices; and
(2) All inspections and maintenance are documented and that these records are maintained for 3 years.
(b) For equipment which must be inspected and maintained under this section the Coast Guard may—
(1) Verify that the equipment inventories exist as represented;
(2) Verify the existence of records required under this section;
(3) Verify that the records of inspection and maintenance reflect the actual condition of any equipment listed or referenced; and
(4) Inspect and require operational tests of equipment.
(c) This section does not apply to containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan and ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal organization, as described in the definition of “contract or other approved means” at § 155.1020.
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.