46 CFR 136.235: Amending a towing vessel Certificate of Inspection
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers amended Certificates of Inspection (COIs) for towing vessels. The owner or managing operator must request an amended COI when the vessel's character, route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors change. Vessels selecting the TSMS option must also give the OCMI objective evidence of compliance first.
Applies toTowing vessels with a COI, and their owners or managing operators; paragraph (c) applies to vessels selecting the TSMS option.
What it says
The cognizant OCMI may issue an amended COI at any time, and it replaces the original COI but keeps the original expiration date.
46 CFR 136.235(a)“An amended COI may be issued at any time by the cognizant OCMI.”
The amended COI replaces the original, but the expiration date stays the same as that of the original.
46 CFR 136.235(a)“The amended COI replaces the original, but the expiration date remains the same as that of the original.”
An amended COI may authorize and record changes in dimensions, gross tonnage, owner, managing operator, manning, persons permitted, route permitted, conditions of operations, or equipment from the current COI.
46 CFR 136.235(a)“An amended COI may be issued to authorize and record a change in the dimensions, gross tonnage, owner, managing operator, manning, persons permitted, route permitted, conditions of operations, or equipment”
The owner or managing operator must request an amended COI from the cognizant OCMI any time the vessel's character, route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in its current COI change.
46 CFR 136.235(b)“must make a request for an amended COI to the cognizant OCMI any time there is a change in the character of the vessel or in its route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors”
The OCMI may need to conduct an inspection before issuing an amended COI.
46 CFR 136.235(b)“The OCMI may need to conduct an inspection before issuing an amended COI.”
For vessels selecting the TSMS option, the owner or managing operator must give the OCMI objective evidence of compliance with the requirements in this subchapter before the amended COI is issued.
46 CFR 136.235(c)“must provide to the OCMI objective evidence of compliance with the requirements in this subchapter prior to the issuance of an amended COI.”
The evidence must come from a TPO and be prepared in accordance with parts 138 and 139 of this subchapter.
46 CFR 136.235(c)(1)“Be from a TPO and prepared in accordance with parts 138 and 139 of this subchapter; and”
The evidence must consider the change in the vessel's character, route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in the current COI.
46 CFR 136.235(c)(2)“Consider the change in the character of a vessel or in its route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in the vessel's current COI.”
Common questions
Does an amended COI change the expiration date?
No. The amended COI replaces the original, but the expiration date stays the same as the original's.
“The amended COI replaces the original, but the expiration date remains the same as that of the original.”
When must I request an amended COI for my towing vessel?
The owner or managing operator must request one any time there is a change in the vessel's character, route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in its current COI.
“must make a request for an amended COI to the cognizant OCMI any time there is a change in the character of the vessel or in its route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors”
Will the Coast Guard inspect my vessel before issuing an amended COI?
The OCMI may need to conduct an inspection before issuing an amended COI.
“The OCMI may need to conduct an inspection before issuing an amended COI.”
What evidence do TSMS vessels need for an amended COI?
The owner or managing operator must give the OCMI objective evidence of compliance with the requirements in this subchapter before the amended COI is issued.
“must provide to the OCMI objective evidence of compliance with the requirements in this subchapter prior to the issuance of an amended COI.”
The text of 46 CFR 136.235
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Certificate of Inspection amendment
(a) An amended COI may be issued at any time by the cognizant OCMI. The amended COI replaces the original, but the expiration date remains the same as that of the original. An amended COI may be issued to authorize and record a change in the dimensions, gross tonnage, owner, managing operator, manning, persons permitted, route permitted, conditions of operations, or equipment of a towing vessel, from that specified in the current COI.
(b) The owner or managing operator of the towing vessel must make a request for an amended COI to the cognizant OCMI any time there is a change in the character of the vessel or in its route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in its current COI. The OCMI may need to conduct an inspection before issuing an amended COI.
(c) For those vessels selecting the TSMS option, the owner or managing operator of the towing vessel must provide to the OCMI objective evidence of compliance with the requirements in this subchapter prior to the issuance of an amended COI. The evidence must:
(1) Be from a TPO and prepared in accordance with parts 138 and 139 of this subchapter; and
(2) Consider the change in the character of a vessel or in its route, equipment, ownership, operation, or similar factors specified in the vessel's current COI.
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.