33 CFR 155.5061: Alternative training and exercise program for nontank vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lets owners or operators of small nontank vessels use an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program instead of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060. They must submit the program and supporting information to the Commandant (CG-MER) for approval. Approval is required before a vessel may receive a nontank vessel response plan approval letter.

Applies toOwners or operators of nontank vessels with an oil capacity of less than 250 barrels.

What it says

  1. Owners or operators of nontank vessels with an oil capacity of less than 250 barrels may meet an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program in place of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060.

    33 CFR 155.5061(a)“in lieu of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060, may meet an Alternative Training and Exercise Program that has been approved by the (CG-MER)”

  2. Vessel owners or operators must make available to the Coast Guard, upon request, any information related to implementation of an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program.

    33 CFR 155.5061(b)“Vessel owners or operators must make available to the Coast Guard, upon request, any information related to implementation of an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program.”

  3. To get approval, vessel owners or operators must submit the program to the Commandant (CG-MER) for review and approval, along with information to assess its adequacy.

    33 CFR 155.5061(c)“the vessel owners or operators must submit to the Commandant (CG-MER) for review and approval: The Alternative Training and Exercise Program”

  4. The submission must include a list of the vessels to which the program is intended to apply.

    33 CFR 155.5061(c)(1)“A list of the vessels to which the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is intended to apply;”

  5. The submission must include an explanation of how the program addresses the requirements of 33 CFR 155.1055(b) through (f) and 33 CFR 155.1060.

    33 CFR 155.5061(c)(2)“An explanation of how the Alternative Training and Exercise Program addresses the requirements of 33 CFR 155.1055(b) through (f) and 33 CFR 155.1060; and”

  6. Approval of the program is required before a vessel may receive a nontank vessel response plan approval letter.

    33 CFR 155.5061(e)“Approval of the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is required before a vessel may receive a nontank vessel response plan approval letter.”

  7. If the Coast Guard finds that a submission does not meet all requirements, it will notify the submitter of the deficiencies, and the submitter may then resubmit a revised request within the time period specified.

    33 CFR 155.5061(f)(2)“the submitter will be notified of the deficiencies. The submitter may then resubmit a revised request within the time period specified.”

Common questions

Who can use an Alternative Training and Exercise Program?

Owners or operators of nontank vessels with an oil capacity of less than 250 barrels may use an approved program instead of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060.

“Owners or operators of nontank vessels with an oil capacity of less than 250 barrels, in lieu of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060”

Do I need approval before getting a nontank vessel response plan approval letter?

Yes. Approval of the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is required before a vessel may receive that letter.

“Approval of the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is required before a vessel may receive a nontank vessel response plan approval letter.”

Who may amend an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program?

Amendments to an approved program may be initiated by the submitter of the program.

“Amendments to the Alternative Training and Exercise Program approved under this section may be initiated by the submitter of an Alternative Training and Exercise Program.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.5061

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

Alternative Training and Exercise Program

(a) Owners or operators of nontank vessels with an oil capacity of less than 250 barrels, in lieu of the training and exercise requirements of §§ 155.5055 and 155.5060, may meet an Alternative Training and Exercise Program that has been approved by the (CG-MER), Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy for meeting the requirements of this section.

(b) Vessel owners or operators must make available to the Coast Guard, upon request, any information related to implementation of an approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program.

(c) For approval of an Alternative Training and Exercise Program the vessel owners or operators must submit to the Commandant (CG-MER) for review and approval: The Alternative Training and Exercise Program and the following information to assess the adequacy of the proposed Alternative Training and Exercise Program—

(1) A list of the vessels to which the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is intended to apply;

(2) An explanation of how the Alternative Training and Exercise Program addresses the requirements of 33 CFR 155.1055(b) through (f) and 33 CFR 155.1060; and

(3) An explanation of how vessel owners or operators must implement the Alternative Training and Exercise Program in its entirety, including performing verification of implementation.

(d) Amendments to the Alternative Training and Exercise Program approved under this section may be initiated by the submitter of an Alternative Training and Exercise Program.

(e) Approval of the Alternative Training and Exercise Program is required before a vessel may receive a nontank vessel response plan approval letter.

(f) The Commandant (CG-MER) will examine each submission for compliance with this section and—

(1) If the submission meets all the requirements, the Coast Guard will consider the training and exercise program requirements under this section to be satisfactory; or

(2) If the Coast Guard determines that the submission does not meet all of the requirements, the submitter will be notified of the deficiencies. The submitter may then resubmit a revised request within the time period specified.

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.