33 CFR 160.212: Deadlines for submitting and updating an NOA

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the times for submitting a Notice of Arrival (NOA) and for updating it. Most vessels must submit at least 96 hours before arrival on voyages of 96 hours or more, or at least 24 hours before arrival on shorter voyages. Towing vessels in control of a vessel carrying CDC, and some small vessels, have different times.

Applies toAll vessels submitting NOAs, with separate times for towing vessels in control of a vessel carrying CDC and for certain U.S. and Canadian vessels of 300 gross tons or less.

What it says

  1. Except as set out in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3), all vessels must submit NOAs within the times required in paragraph (a)(4).

    33 CFR 160.212(a)(1)“Except as set out in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, all vessels must submit NOAs within the times required in paragraph (a)(4) of this section.”

  2. Towing vessels in control of a vessel carrying CDC and operating solely between ports or places of the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and the District of Columbia must submit an NOA before departure but at least 12 hours before arriving at the destination.

    33 CFR 160.212(a)(2)“must submit an NOA before departure but at least 12 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.”

  3. U.S. vessels of 300 gross tons or less arriving from a foreign port or place, with a voyage time of less than 24 hours, must submit an NOA at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.

    33 CFR 160.212(a)(3)“must submit an NOA at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.”

  4. If voyage time is 96 hours or more, the NOA must be submitted at least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.

    33 CFR 160.212(a)(4)(i)“At least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination; or”

  5. If voyage time is less than 96 hours, the NOA must be submitted before departure but at least 24 hours before arriving at the destination.

    33 CFR 160.212(a)(4)(ii)“Before departure but at least 24 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.”

  6. Towing vessels in control of a vessel carrying CDC and operating solely between ports or places in the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and the District of Columbia must submit NOA updates as soon as practicable but at least 6 hours before entering the destination.

    33 CFR 160.212(b)(2)“must submit updates to an NOA as soon as practicable but at least 6 hours before entering the port or place of destination.”

  7. U.S. vessels of 300 gross tons or less arriving from a foreign port with a voyage time of less than or equal to 6 hours must submit updates as soon as practicable, but at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.

    33 CFR 160.212(b)(3)(ii)“must submit updates to an NOA as soon as practicable, but at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.”

  8. If remaining voyage time is less than 24 hours, updates must be submitted as soon as practicable, but at least 12 hours before arriving at the destination.

    33 CFR 160.212(b)(4)(iii)“As soon as practicable, but at least 12 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.”

Common questions

How far ahead must I submit an NOA for a voyage of 96 hours or more?

You must submit the NOA at least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination, unless an exception in paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) applies.

“At least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination; or”

When must a small U.S. vessel on a short foreign voyage submit an NOA?

A U.S. vessel of 300 gross tons or less arriving from a foreign port with a voyage time under 24 hours must submit at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.

“U.S. vessels 300 gross tons or less, arriving from a foreign port or place, and whose voyage time is less than 24 hours must submit an NOA at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.”

What is the NOA deadline for a towing vessel in control of a vessel carrying CDC?

If it operates solely between ports or places of the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, it must submit before departure but at least 12 hours before arriving at the destination.

“must submit an NOA before departure but at least 12 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.”

The text of 33 CFR 160.212

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

When to submit an NOA

(a) Submission of an NOA. (1) Except as set out in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, all vessels must submit NOAs within the times required in paragraph (a)(4) of this section.

(2) Towing vessels, when in control of a vessel carrying CDC and operating solely between ports or places of the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, must submit an NOA before departure but at least 12 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.

(3) U.S. vessels 300 gross tons or less, arriving from a foreign port or place, and whose voyage time is less than 24 hours must submit an NOA at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place. Also, Canadian vessels 300 gross tons or less, arriving directly from Canada, via boundary waters, to a United States port or place on the Great Lakes, whose voyage time is less than 24 hours must submit an NOA at least 60 minutes before departure from the Canadian port or place.

(4) Times for submitting NOAs are as follows:

If your voyage time is— Then you must submit an NOA—

(i) 96 hours or more; or At least 96 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination; or

(ii) Less than 96 hours Before departure but at least 24 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.

(b) Submission of updates to an NOA. (1) Except as set out in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, vessels must submit updates in NOA information within the times required in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.

(2) Towing vessels, when in control of a vessel carrying CDC and operating solely between ports or places in the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, must submit updates to an NOA as soon as practicable but at least 6 hours before entering the port or place of destination.

(3) U.S. vessels 300 gross tons or less, arriving from a foreign port or place, whose voyage time is—

(i) Less than 24 hours but greater than 6 hours, must submit updates to an NOA as soon as practicable, but at least 6 hours before entering the port or place of destination.

(ii) Less than or equal to 6 hours, must submit updates to an NOA as soon as practicable, but at least 60 minutes before departure from the foreign port or place.

(4) Times for submitting updates to NOAs are as follows:

If your remaining voyage time is— Then you must submit updates to an NOA—

(i) 96 hours or more; As soon as practicable, but at least 24 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination;

(ii) Less than 96 hours but not less than 24 hours; or As soon as practicable, but at least 24 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination; or

(iii) Less than 24 hours As soon as practicable, but at least 12 hours before arriving at the port or place of destination.

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.