33 CFR 155.4035: Pre-incident information for salvage and firefighting providers

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets pre-incident duties toward the salvage and marine firefighting resource providers listed in response plans. You must give both kinds of providers the information listed in the cited sections. You must also prepare a vessel pre-fire plan, give it to the marine firefighting providers, and get their written certification that they accept it.

Applies toPlanholders who identify salvage and marine firefighting resource providers in their response plans.

What it says

  1. You must give your salvage and marine firefighting resource providers the information listed in §§ 155.1035(c), 155.1040(c), and 155.5035(c).

    33 CFR 155.4035(a)“You must provide the information listed in §§ 155.1035(c), 155.1040(c), and 155.5035(c) to your salvage and marine firefighting resource providers.”

  2. You must prepare a vessel pre-fire plan in accordance with NFPA 1405, Chapter 9, which is incorporated by reference as described in § 155.140.

    33 CFR 155.4035(b)(1)“You must prepare a vessel pre-fire plan in accordance with NFPA 1405, Guide for Land-Based Firefighters Who Respond to Marine Vessel Fires, Chapter 9”

  3. If the planholder's vessel pre-fire plan meets another regulation or international standard, such as SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 15, a copy of that specific fire plan must be given to the resource provider(s) instead of the NFPA 1405 pre-fire plan, and be attached to the VRP.

    33 CFR 155.4035(b)(1)“a copy of that specific fire plan must also be given to the resource provider(s) instead of the NFPA 1405 pre-fire plan, and be attached to the VRP.”

  4. The marine firefighting resource provider(s) you must identify in your plan must be given a copy of the plan.

    33 CFR 155.4035(b)(2)“The marine firefighting resource provider(s) you are required to identify in your plan must be given a copy of the plan.”

  5. Those marine firefighting resource providers must certify in writing to you that they find the plan acceptable and agree to implement it to mitigate a potential or actual fire.

    33 CFR 155.4035(b)(2)“they must certify in writing to you that they find the plan acceptable and agree to implement it to mitigate a potential or actual fire.”

  6. If a marine firefighting resource provider subcontracts to other organizations, each subcontracted organization must also receive a copy of the vessel pre-fire plan.

    33 CFR 155.4035(b)(3)“If a marine firefighting resource provider subcontracts to other organizations, each subcontracted organization must also receive a copy of the vessel pre-fire plan.”

Common questions

What standard must a vessel pre-fire plan follow?

You must prepare it in accordance with NFPA 1405, Chapter 9. A pre-fire plan that meets another regulation, such as SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 15, must be given to the resource provider(s) instead of the NFPA 1405 plan.

“You must prepare a vessel pre-fire plan in accordance with NFPA 1405, Guide for Land-Based Firefighters Who Respond to Marine Vessel Fires, Chapter 9”

Do marine firefighting providers have to accept the pre-fire plan in writing?

Yes. The marine firefighting resource providers must certify in writing to you that they find the plan acceptable and agree to implement it to mitigate a potential or actual fire.

“they must certify in writing to you that they find the plan acceptable and agree to implement it to mitigate a potential or actual fire.”

Do subcontractors of a marine firefighting provider need the pre-fire plan?

Yes. Each subcontracted organization must also receive a copy of the vessel pre-fire plan.

“each subcontracted organization must also receive a copy of the vessel pre-fire plan.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.4035

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Required pre-incident information and arrangements for the salvage and marine firefighting resource providers listed in response plans

(a) You must provide the information listed in §§ 155.1035(c), 155.1040(c), and 155.5035(c) to your salvage and marine firefighting resource providers.

(b) Marine firefighting pre-fire plan. (1) You must prepare a vessel pre-fire plan in accordance with NFPA 1405, Guide for Land-Based Firefighters Who Respond to Marine Vessel Fires, Chapter 9 (Incorporation by reference, see § 155.140). If the planholder's vessel pre-fire plan is one that meets another regulation, such as SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 15, or international standard, a copy of that specific fire plan must also be given to the resource provider(s) instead of the NFPA 1405 pre-fire plan, and be attached to the VRP.

(2) The marine firefighting resource provider(s) you are required to identify in your plan must be given a copy of the plan. Additionally, they must certify in writing to you that they find the plan acceptable and agree to implement it to mitigate a potential or actual fire.

(3) If a marine firefighting resource provider subcontracts to other organizations, each subcontracted organization must also receive a copy of the vessel pre-fire plan.

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.