33 CFR 155.1065: Vessel response plan submission, approval and appeal
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets out how an owner or operator submits a vessel response plan to the Commandant and how the Coast Guard approves it or finds it deficient. It requires submission at least 60 days before the vessel handles oil in U.S. jurisdiction. It also covers alternative planning criteria requests and appeals.
Applies toAn owner or operator of a vessel to which this subpart applies.
What it says
The owner or operator must submit one complete English language copy of the plan to Commandant, electronically, by email, or by mail.
33 CFR 155.1065(a)“must submit one complete English language copy of a vessel response plan to Commandant electronically by using the Vessel Response Plan Electronic Submission Tool”
The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
33 CFR 155.1065(a)“The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”
The owner or operator must include a statement certifying that the plan meets the applicable requirements of subparts D, E, F, G, and J of this part.
33 CFR 155.1065(b)“must include a statement certifying that the plan meets the applicable requirements of subparts D, E, F, G, and J of this part”
If the Coast Guard determines the plan meets all requirements of this subpart, it will send an approval letter, and the plan is valid for up to 5 years from the date of approval.
33 CFR 155.1065(c)“The plan will be valid for a period of up to 5 years from the date of approval.”
If the Coast Guard finds deficiencies, 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 155.1065(d)“must then resubmit the revised plan, or corrected portions of the plan, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard”
An owner or operator who believes the national planning criteria are inappropriate for the vessel may request acceptance of alternative planning criteria, submitted 90 days before the vessel intends to operate under the alternative and forwarded to the COTP for the affected geographic area(s).
33 CFR 155.1065(f)“Submission of a request must be made 90 days before the vessel intends to operate under the proposed alternative”
Within 21 days of notification that a plan is not approved, the owner or operator may appeal in writing to the Director of Emergency Management (CG-5RI).
33 CFR 155.1065(h)“Within 21 days of notification that a plan is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Emergency Management (CG-5RI).”
Common questions
How long before operating must I submit a vessel response plan?
The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
“The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”
How long is an approved vessel response plan valid?
An approved plan is valid for up to 5 years from the date of approval.
“The plan will be valid for a period of up to 5 years from the date of approval.”
How long do I have to appeal a vessel response plan that was not approved?
The owner or operator has 21 days from notification to appeal to the Director of Emergency Management (CG-5RI). The appeal must be in writing.
“Within 21 days of notification that a plan is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Emergency Management (CG-5RI).”
Can I request alternative planning criteria for my vessel?
Yes, if the owner or operator believes the national planning criteria are inappropriate for the vessel and its areas of operation. The request goes to the COTP for the affected area(s) 90 days before operating under the alternative.
“the owner or operator may request acceptance of alternative planning criteria by the Coast Guard.”
The text of 33 CFR 155.1065
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Procedures for plan submission, approval, requests for acceptance of alternative planning criteria, and appeal
(a) An owner or operator of a vessel to which this subpart applies must submit one complete English language copy of a vessel response plan to Commandant electronically by using the Vessel Response Plan Electronic Submission Tool available 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, 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. For new Homeport user email address and password registrations (to enable electronic submissions), please follow the process provided in the United States Coast Guard Homeport website at https://homeport.uscg.mil/Pages/NewUserRegistration.aspx. The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(b) The owner or operator must include a statement certifying that the plan meets the applicable requirements of subparts D, E, F, G, and J of this part and shall include a statement indicating whether the vessel(s) covered by the plan are manned vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo, unmanned vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo, or vessels carrying oil as a secondary cargo.
(c) If the Coast Guard determines that the plan meets all requirements of this subpart, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator with an approval letter. The plan will be valid for a period of up to 5 years from the date of approval.
(d) If the Coast Guard reviews the plan and determines that it does not meet all of the requirements, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the response plan's deficiencies. The vessel owner or operator must then resubmit the revised plan, or corrected portions of the plan, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard.
(e) For those vessels temporarily authorized under § 155.1025 to operate without an approved plan pending formal Coast Guard approval, the deficiency provisions of § 155.1070(c), (d), and (e) will also apply.
(f) When the owner or operator of a vessel believes that national planning criteria contained elsewhere in this part are inappropriate to the vessel for the areas in which it is intended to operate, the owner or operator may request acceptance of alternative planning criteria by the Coast Guard. Submission of a request must be made 90 days before the vessel intends to operate under the proposed alternative and must be forwarded to the COTP for the geographic area(s) affected.
(g) An owner or operator of a United States flag vessel may meet the response plan requirements of Regulation 37 of MARPOL 73/78 and subparts D, E, F, and G of this part by stating in writing, according to the provisions of § 155.1030(j), that the plan submitted is intended to address the requirements of both Regulation 37 of MARPOL 73/78 and the requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G of this part.
(h) Within 21 days of notification that a plan is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Emergency Management (CG-5RI). This appeal must be submitted in writing to Commandant (CG-5RI), Attn: Director of Emergency Management, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7516, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7516.
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.