46 CFR 136.200: Certificate of inspection required for towing vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says a towing vessel may not be operated without a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard onboard, as required by § 136.202. A vessel certificated under this subchapter must fully comply with the COI's terms. The section also covers temporary COIs and a limited allowance when a COI expires during a foreign voyage.
Applies toTowing vessels, including each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter.
What it says
A towing vessel may not be operated unless it has onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202.
46 CFR 136.200(a)“A towing vessel may not be operated without having onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202.”
Each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter must be in full compliance with the terms of the COI.
46 CFR 136.200(b)“Each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter must be in full compliance with the terms of the COI.”
If necessary to prevent the delay of the vessel, the Coast Guard may issue a temporary COI to a towing vessel, pending issuance and delivery of the permanent COI.
46 CFR 136.200(c)“If necessary to prevent the delay of the vessel, the Coast Guard may issue a temporary COI to a towing vessel, pending the issuance and delivery of the permanent COI.”
The temporary COI must be carried in the same manner as the regular COI and is equivalent to the permanent COI it represents.
46 CFR 136.200(c)“The temporary COI must be carried in the same manner as the regular COI and is equivalent to the permanent COI that it represents.”
A towing vessel on a foreign voyage between a U.S. port and a foreign port whose COI expires during the voyage may lawfully complete the voyage without a valid COI, provided the voyage is completed within 30 days of expiration and the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing from a U.S. port.
46 CFR 136.200(d)“provided the voyage is completed within 30 days of expiration, and provided that the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing on the foreign voyage from a U.S. port.”
Common questions
Can a towing vessel operate without a COI onboard?
No. A towing vessel may not be operated without a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard onboard, as required by § 136.202.
“A towing vessel may not be operated without having onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202.”
Can the Coast Guard issue a temporary COI for a towing vessel?
Yes, if necessary to prevent the delay of the vessel, pending issuance and delivery of the permanent COI. The temporary COI is equivalent to the permanent COI it represents.
“The temporary COI must be carried in the same manner as the regular COI and is equivalent to the permanent COI that it represents.”
What happens if a towing vessel's COI expires during a foreign voyage?
The vessel may lawfully complete the voyage without a valid COI if it finishes within 30 days of expiration. This applies only if the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing from a U.S. port.
“provided the voyage is completed within 30 days of expiration, and provided that the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing on the foreign voyage from a U.S. port.”
The text of 46 CFR 136.200
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Certificate required
(a) A towing vessel may not be operated without having onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202.
(b) Each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter must be in full compliance with the terms of the COI.
(c) If necessary to prevent the delay of the vessel, the Coast Guard may issue a temporary COI to a towing vessel, pending the issuance and delivery of the permanent COI. The temporary COI must be carried in the same manner as the regular COI and is equivalent to the permanent COI that it represents.
(d) A towing vessel on a foreign voyage between a port in the United States and a port in a foreign country whose COI expires during the voyage may lawfully complete the voyage without a valid COI, provided the voyage is completed within 30 days of expiration, and provided that the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing on the foreign voyage from a U.S. port.
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.