33 CFR 155.5075: Appeals of vessel response plan determinations

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out two ways to challenge Coast Guard decisions on a vessel response plan (VRP). An owner or operator may petition for reconsideration of a deficiency determination, or may appeal a notice that a VRP is not approved. Each route has its own deadline and must go to the stated address.

Applies toVessel owners or operators who disagree with a deficiency determination or who are notified that a vessel response plan (VRP) is not approved.

What it says

  1. A vessel owner or operator who disagrees with a deficiency determination may submit a petition for reconsideration to the Commandant (CG-5RI), at the address or email given in the text.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)“A vessel owner or operator who disagrees with a deficiency determination may submit a petition for reconsideration to the Commandant (CG-5RI)”

  2. The petition must be submitted within the time period required for compliance or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Coast Guard notice of a deficiency determination, whichever is less.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)“within the time period required for compliance or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Coast Guard notice of a deficiency determination, whichever is less.”

  3. After considering all relevant material presented, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the final decision.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)“After considering all relevant material presented, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the final decision.”

  4. Unless the owner or operator petitions for reconsideration of the Coast Guard's decision, the owner or operator must correct the vessel response plan (VRP) deficiencies within the period specified in the Coast Guard's initial determination.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)(1)“Unless the vessel owner or operator petitions for reconsideration of the Coast Guard's decision, the vessel's owner or operator must correct the vessel response plan (VRP) deficiencies”

  5. If the owner or operator petitions for reconsideration, the effective date of the Coast Guard notice of deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast Guard.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)(2)“the effective date of the Coast Guard notice of deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast Guard.”

  6. Petitions to the Coast Guard must be submitted in writing, via the Coast Guard official who issued the requirement to amend the VRP, within 5 days of receipt of the notice.

    33 CFR 155.5075(a)(2)“Petitions to the Coast Guard must be submitted in writing, via the Coast Guard official who issued the requirement to amend the VRP, within 5 days of receipt of the notice.”

  7. Within 21 days of notification that a VRP is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy (CG-5RI).

    33 CFR 155.5075(b)“Within 21 days of notification that a VRP is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy (CG-5RI).”

  8. The appeal of a VRP that is not approved must be submitted in writing to Commandant (CG-5RI) at the address given in the text.

    33 CFR 155.5075(b)“This appeal must be submitted in writing to Commandant (CG-5RI)”

Common questions

How long do I have to appeal a VRP that is not approved?

The vessel owner or operator may appeal within 21 days of notification that a VRP is not approved. The appeal goes to the Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy (CG-5RI).

“Within 21 days of notification that a VRP is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination”

What is the deadline to petition for reconsideration of a deficiency determination?

The petition is due within the time period required for compliance or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the notice, whichever is less. Paragraph (a)(2) also says petitions must be in writing within 5 days of receipt of the notice.

“within the time period required for compliance or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Coast Guard notice of a deficiency determination, whichever is less.”

Does a petition for reconsideration delay the deficiency notice?

It may. The effective date of the notice of deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast Guard.

“the effective date of the Coast Guard notice of deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast Guard.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.5075

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

Appeal procedures

(a) A vessel owner or operator who disagrees with a deficiency determination may submit a petition for reconsideration to the Commandant (CG-5RI), Attn: Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7516, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7516 or vrp@uscg.mil within the time period required for compliance or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Coast Guard notice of a deficiency determination, whichever is less. After considering all relevant material presented, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel owner or operator of the final decision.

(1) Unless the vessel owner or operator petitions for reconsideration of the Coast Guard's decision, the vessel's owner or operator must correct the vessel response plan (VRP) deficiencies within the period specified in the Coast Guard's initial determination.

(2) If the vessel owner or operator petitions the Coast Guard for reconsideration, the effective date of the Coast Guard notice of deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast Guard. Petitions to the Coast Guard must be submitted in writing, via the Coast Guard official who issued the requirement to amend the VRP, within 5 days of receipt of the notice.

(b) Within 21 days of notification that a VRP is not approved, the vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy (CG-5RI). This appeal must be submitted in writing to Commandant (CG-5RI), Attn: Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7516, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7516.

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.