46 CFR 136.240: Permit to proceed for towing vessel repairs

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers a towing vessel that is no longer in compliance with its COI and needs to go to another port for repairs. A vessel with a TSMS may proceed if it meets all the listed conditions, including notifying the cognizant OCMI. Other vessels must request permission from the cognizant OCMI.

Applies toTowing vessels that are no longer in compliance with their COI.

What it says

  1. A towing vessel that is no longer in compliance with its COI may be required to get permission (Form CG-948) to proceed to another port for repairs.

    “Permission to proceed to another port for repairs (Form CG-948) may be required for a towing vessel that is no longer in compliance with its COI.”

  2. One condition for a vessel with a TSMS to proceed to another port for repair is that the owner, managing operator, or master judges that the trip can be completed safely.

    46 CFR 136.240(a)(1)“In the judgment of the owner, managing operator, or master, the trip can be completed safely;”

  3. Another condition is that the TSMS addresses the condition that caused the non-compliance and the necessary conditions under which the vessel may safely proceed to another port for repair.

    46 CFR 136.240(a)(2)“The TSMS addresses the condition of the vessel that has resulted in non-compliance and the necessary conditions under which the vessel may safely proceed to another port for repair;”

  4. A further condition is that the vessel proceeds as the TSMS provides and does not tow while proceeding, unless the owner or managing operator determines that towing is safe.

    46 CFR 136.240(a)(3)“The vessel proceeds as provided in the TSMS and does not tow while proceeding, unless the owner or managing operator determines that it is safe to do so; and”

  5. The owner or operator must also notify the cognizant OCMI in any other OCMI zones through which the vessel will transit.

    46 CFR 136.240(a)(4)“The owner or operator must also notify the cognizant OCMI in any other OCMI zones through which the vessel will transit.”

  6. If a vessel has no TSMS, or its TSMS does not address the condition or the conditions for safely proceeding, the owner, managing operator, or master must request permission from the cognizant OCMI in whose zone the non-compliance occurs or is discovered.

    46 CFR 136.240(b)“the owner, managing operator, or master must request permission to proceed from the cognizant OCMI in whose zone the non-compliance occurs or is discovered.”

  7. Under paragraph (b), the vessel will not engage in towing, unless the cognizant OCMI determines it is safe to do so.

    46 CFR 136.240(b)(2)“The vessel will not engage in towing, unless the cognizant OCMI determines it is safe to do so.”

  8. The cognizant OCMI may require an inspection by a Coast Guard Marine Inspector or an examination by a surveyor from a TPO before the vessel proceeds.

    46 CFR 136.240(c)“The cognizant OCMI may require an inspection of the vessel by a Coast Guard Marine Inspector or an examination by a surveyor from a TPO prior to the vessel proceeding.”

Common questions

Can I request permission to proceed orally?

Yes. A request for permission to proceed may be made electronically, in writing, or orally.

“The request for permission to proceed may be made electronically, in writing, or orally.”

What form is the permit to proceed issued on?

The Coast Guard may issue the permit on Form CG-948, "Permit to Proceed to Another Port for Repairs," or in letter form. It will state the conditions under which the vessel may proceed.

“The Coast Guard may issue the permit either on Form CG-948, “Permit to Proceed to Another Port for Repairs,” or in letter form”

Can the OCMI ask for documentation with a permit request?

Yes. The cognizant OCMI may require a written description, a damage survey, or other documentation to help determine the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance.

“The cognizant OCMI may require a written description, a damage survey, or other documentation to assist in determining the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance.”

The text of 46 CFR 136.240

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

Permit to proceed

Permission to proceed to another port for repairs (Form CG-948) may be required for a towing vessel that is no longer in compliance with its COI. This permission may be necessary in certain situations, including damage to the vessel, failure of an essential system, or failure to comply with a regulation, including failure to comply with the TSMS requirements, if appropriate.

(a) What a vessel with a TSMS must do before proceeding to another port for repairs. A vessel with a TSMS may proceed to another port for repair, if:

(1) In the judgment of the owner, managing operator, or master, the trip can be completed safely;

(2) The TSMS addresses the condition of the vessel that has resulted in non-compliance and the necessary conditions under which the vessel may safely proceed to another port for repair;

(3) The vessel proceeds as provided in the TSMS and does not tow while proceeding, unless the owner or managing operator determines that it is safe to do so; and

(4) The owner or managing operator notifies the cognizant OCMI in whose zone the non-compliance occurred or is discovered, before the vessel proceeds. The owner or operator must also notify the cognizant OCMI in any other OCMI zones through which the vessel will transit.

(b) What another vessel must do before proceeding to another port for repairs. If a vessel does not have a TSMS, or a vessel has one but it does not address the condition of the vessel that has resulted in non-compliance or the necessary conditions under which the vessel may safely proceed to another port for repair, the owner, managing operator, or master must request permission to proceed from the cognizant OCMI in whose zone the non-compliance occurs or is discovered. This permission operates as follows:

(1) The request for permission to proceed may be made electronically, in writing, or orally. The cognizant OCMI may require a written description, a damage survey, or other documentation to assist in determining the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance.

(2) The vessel will not engage in towing, unless the cognizant OCMI determines it is safe to do so.

(3) The Coast Guard may issue the permit either on Form CG-948, “Permit to Proceed to Another Port for Repairs,” or in letter form, and will state the conditions under which the vessel may proceed to another port for repair.

(c) Inspection or examination. The cognizant OCMI may require an inspection of the vessel by a Coast Guard Marine Inspector or an examination by a surveyor from a TPO prior to the vessel proceeding.

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.