33 CFR 155.4045: Contracts with salvage and marine firefighting providers
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the agreement rules for salvage and marine firefighting resource providers listed in a response plan. You may list only providers arranged by contract or other approved means, and you must get their written consent. The consent must be available to the Coast Guard for inspection.
What it says
You may list in your plan only resource providers that have been arranged by contract or other approved means.
33 CFR 155.4045(a)“You may only list resource providers in your plan that have been arranged by contract or other approved means.”
You must obtain written consent from each resource provider stating that it agrees to be listed in your plan.
33 CFR 155.4045(b)“You must obtain written consent from the resource provider stating that they agree to be listed in your plan.”
The consent must state that the provider will supply the services listed in §§ 155.4030(a) through 155.4030(h), and that those services can arrive within the response times in Table 155.4030(b).
33 CFR 155.4045(b)“This consent must state that the resource provider agrees to provide the services that are listed in §§ 155.4030(a) through 155.4030(h), and that these services are capable of arriving within the response times listed in Table 155.4030(b).”
The consent may be part of the contract with the resource provider or may be a separate document.
33 CFR 155.4045(b)“This consent may be included in the contract with the resource provider or in a separate document.”
The written consent must be available to the Coast Guard for inspection, and the response plan must identify where it is located.
33 CFR 155.4045(c)“This written consent must be available to the Coast Guard for inspection. The response plan must identify the location of this written consent, which must be:”
The written consent must be kept either on board the vessel or with a qualified individual located in the United States.
33 CFR 155.4045(c)(2)“With a qualified individual located in the United States.”
You may list public marine firefighters only out to the maximum extent of the public resource's jurisdiction, unless other agreements are in place.
33 CFR 155.4045(d)“Public marine firefighters may only be listed out to the maximum extent of the public resource's jurisdiction, unless other agreements are in place.”
Common questions
Do I need written consent from salvage and firefighting providers in my response plan?
Yes. You must obtain written consent from each resource provider stating that it agrees to be listed in your plan.
“You must obtain written consent from the resource provider stating that they agree to be listed in your plan.”
Where must the written consent from a resource provider be kept?
The response plan must identify the location of the consent. It must be on board the vessel or with a qualified individual located in the United States.
“The response plan must identify the location of this written consent, which must be:”
Can the consent be part of the contract?
Yes. The consent may be included in the contract with the resource provider or in a separate document.
“This consent may be included in the contract with the resource provider or in a separate document.”
Can I list public marine firefighters beyond their jurisdiction?
Only if other agreements are in place. A public resource may agree to respond beyond its limits, but the Coast Guard considers it unreasonable to expect this.
“A public marine firefighting resource may agree to respond beyond their jurisdictional limits, but the Coast Guard considers it unreasonable to expect public marine firefighting resources to do this.”
The text of 33 CFR 155.4045
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Required agreements or contracts with the salvage and marine firefighting resource providers
(a) You may only list resource providers in your plan that have been arranged by contract or other approved means.
(b) You must obtain written consent from the resource provider stating that they agree to be listed in your plan. This consent must state that the resource provider agrees to provide the services that are listed in §§ 155.4030(a) through 155.4030(h), and that these services are capable of arriving within the response times listed in Table 155.4030(b). This consent may be included in the contract with the resource provider or in a separate document.
(c) This written consent must be available to the Coast Guard for inspection. The response plan must identify the location of this written consent, which must be:
(1) On board the vessel; or
(2) With a qualified individual located in the United States.
(d) Public marine firefighters may only be listed out to the maximum extent of the public resource's jurisdiction, unless other agreements are in place. A public marine firefighting resource may agree to respond beyond their jurisdictional limits, but the Coast Guard considers it unreasonable to expect public marine firefighting resources to do this.
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.