33 CFR 155.5065: Nontank vessel response plan submission and approval

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out how an owner or operator of a nontank vessel submits a vessel response plan (VRP) to Commandant. The plan must go in at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate on the navigable waters of the United States. The Coast Guard then approves the plan or notifies the owner or operator of deficiencies.

Applies toOwners and operators of a nontank vessel to which this subpart applies.

What it says

  1. The owner or operator must submit one complete English language copy of the vessel response plan to Commandant, electronically, by mail, or by email.

    33 CFR 155.5065(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 for registered users”

  2. The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate upon the navigable waters of the United States.

    33 CFR 155.5065(a)“The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate upon the navigable waters of the United States.”

  3. The owner or operator must include a statement certifying that the VRP meets the applicable requirements of this subpart and of subparts D, E, F, and G, if applicable.

    33 CFR 155.5065(b)“must include a statement certifying that the VRP meets the applicable requirements of this subpart and the requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G, if applicable.”

  4. The owner or operator must also certify that they have ensured, through contract or other approved means, that the necessary private response resources are available to respond, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge or substantial threat of one.

    33 CFR 155.5065(b)“has ensured the availability of, through contract or other approved means, the necessary private response resources to respond, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge”

  5. If the Coast Guard determines the VRP meets all requirements of this subpart, it will notify the owner or operator with an approval letter.

    33 CFR 155.5065(c)“the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator with an approval letter.”

  6. An approved VRP is valid for 5 years from the date of approval, conditional upon satisfactory annual updates.

    33 CFR 155.5065(c)“The VRP will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of approval, conditional upon satisfactory annual updates.”

  7. If the Coast Guard finds deficiencies, the owner or operator must resubmit the revised VRP or corrected portions within the time period in the Coast Guard's written notice.

    33 CFR 155.5065(d)“must then resubmit a copy of the revised VRP or corrected portions of the VRP, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard.”

Common questions

How far ahead must a nontank vessel vessel response plan be submitted?

The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate upon the navigable waters of the United States.

“The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate upon the navigable waters of the United States.”

How long is an approved nontank vessel response plan valid?

The VRP is valid for 5 years from the date of approval. This is conditional upon satisfactory annual updates.

“The VRP will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of approval, conditional upon satisfactory annual updates.”

What happens if the Coast Guard finds problems with my vessel response plan?

The Coast Guard will notify the owner or operator of the VRP deficiencies. The owner or operator must then resubmit the revised VRP or corrected portions within the time period in the written notice.

“the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the VRP deficiencies.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.5065

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

Procedures for plan submission and approval

(a) An owner or operator of a nontank 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 for registered users available at https://vrp.uscg.mil/homeport-vrp/vrp-express/ 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 or by email to vrp@uscg.mil. The plan must be submitted at least 60 days before the vessel intends to operate upon the navigable waters of the United States.

(b) The owner or operator of a nontank vessel must include a statement certifying that the VRP meets the applicable requirements of this subpart and the requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G, if applicable. The vessel owner or operator must also include a statement certifying that the vessel owner or operator has ensured the availability of, through contract or other approved means, the necessary private response resources to respond, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge from their vessel as required under this subpart.

(c) If the Coast Guard determines that the VRP meets all requirements of this subpart, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator with an approval letter. The VRP will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of approval, conditional upon satisfactory annual updates.

(d) If the Coast Guard reviews the VRP and determines that it does not meet all of the requirements of this subpart, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the VRP deficiencies. The vessel owner or operator must then resubmit a copy of the revised VRP or corrected portions of the VRP, within the time period specified in the written notice provided by the Coast Guard.

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.