33 CFR 155.4052: Vessel response plan drills and exercises

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section requires vessel owners or operators with a response plan to conduct exercises so the plan will function in an emergency. It sets minimum exercise types and schedules, including both announced and unannounced exercises. Following the PREP Guidelines or an approved alternate program satisfies the requirements.

Applies toVessel owners or operators required by §§ 155.1035, 155.1040, 155.5035 to have a response plan, and vessels covered by this subpart.

What it says

  1. A vessel owner or operator required to have a response plan must conduct exercises as necessary to ensure the plan will function in an emergency.

    33 CFR 155.4052(a)“shall conduct exercises as necessary to ensure that the plan will function in an emergency.”

  2. The exercises must include both announced and unannounced exercises.

    33 CFR 155.4052(a)“Both announced and unannounced exercises must be included.”

  3. Remote assessment and consultation exercises must be conducted quarterly.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(1)“Remote assessment and consultation exercises, which must be conducted quarterly;”

  4. Emergency procedures exercises must be conducted quarterly.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(2)“Emergency procedures exercises, which must be conducted quarterly;”

  5. Shore-based salvage and shore-based marine firefighting management team tabletop exercises must be conducted annually.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(3)“Shore-based salvage and shore-based marine firefighting management team tabletop exercises, which must be conducted annually;”

  6. The owner or operator must design the exercise program so all components of the response plan are exercised at least once every three years.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(5)“The vessel owner or operator shall design the exercise program so that all components of the response plan are exercised at least once every three years.”

  7. Each year, at least one of the exercises listed in § 155.4052(b)(2) and (4) must be unannounced.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(6)“Annually, at least one of the exercises listed in § 155.4052(b)(2) and (4) must be unannounced.”

  8. Compliance with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines satisfies the vessel response plan exercise requirements.

    33 CFR 155.4052(b)(7)“Compliance with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines will satisfy the vessel response plan exercise requirements.”

Common questions

How often must emergency procedures exercises be conducted?

Emergency procedures exercises must be conducted quarterly.

“Emergency procedures exercises, which must be conducted quarterly;”

What counts as an unannounced exercise?

It is an exercise in which participants have not been told the exact date, time, or scenario in advance.

“An unannounced exercise is one in which the personnel participating in the exercise have not been advised in advance of the exact date, time, or scenario of the exercise.”

Do all response plan components have to be exercised at one time?

No. The components may be exercised over the 3-year period through the required exercises or through an area exercise.

“All of the components do not have to be exercised at one time; they may be exercised over the 3-year period through the required exercises or through an area exercise;”

Does following the PREP Guidelines satisfy the exercise requirements?

Yes. Compliance with the PREP Guidelines satisfies the vessel response plan exercise requirements.

“Compliance with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines will satisfy the vessel response plan exercise requirements.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.4052

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

Drills and exercises

(a) A vessel owner or operator required by §§ 155.1035, 155.1040, 155.5035 to have a response plan shall conduct exercises as necessary to ensure that the plan will function in an emergency. Both announced and unannounced exercises must be included.

(b) The following are the minimum exercise requirements for vessels covered by this subpart:

(1) Remote assessment and consultation exercises, which must be conducted quarterly;

(2) Emergency procedures exercises, which must be conducted quarterly;

(3) Shore-based salvage and shore-based marine firefighting management team tabletop exercises, which must be conducted annually;

(4) Response provider equipment deployment exercises, which must be conducted annually;

(5) An exercise of the entire response plan, which must be conducted every three years. The vessel owner or operator shall design the exercise program so that all components of the response plan are exercised at least once every three years. All of the components do not have to be exercised at one time; they may be exercised over the 3-year period through the required exercises or through an area exercise; and

(6) Annually, at least one of the exercises listed in § 155.4052(b)(2) and (4) must be unannounced. An unannounced exercise is one in which the personnel participating in the exercise have not been advised in advance of the exact date, time, or scenario of the exercise.

(7) Compliance with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines will satisfy the vessel response plan exercise requirements. These guidelines are available on the Internet at https://Homeport.uscg.mil/exercises. Once on that Web site, select the link for “Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP)” and then select “Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines”. Compliance with an alternate program that meets the requirements of 33 CFR 155.1060(a) and 155.5061, and has been approved under 33 CFR 155.1065 and 155.5065 will also satisfy the vessel response plan exercise requirements.

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.