46 CFR 137.210: Internal survey program under the TSMS
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers towing vessels that have selected the TSMS option and chosen an internal survey program to show compliance. The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS includes eight listed elements. Surveys may be spread over time, with no more than 1 year between surveys of any item, unless otherwise prescribed.
Applies toIt applies to the owner or managing operator of a towing vessel that has selected the TSMS option and has chosen to demonstrate vessel compliance through an internal survey program.
What it says
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS includes the procedures for surveying and testing described in § 137.215.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(1)“Procedures for surveying and testing described in § 137.215;”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS identifies the equipment, systems, and onboard procedures to be surveyed.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(2)“Equipment, systems, and onboard procedures to be surveyed;”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS identifies items that would need repair or replacement before the vessel could continue in service, such as deficiencies identified on Form CG-835.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(3)“Identification of items that would need repair or replacement before the vessel could continue in service, such as deficiencies identified on Form CG-835”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS includes procedures for documenting and reporting non-conformities and deficiencies.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(4)“Procedures for documenting and reporting non-conformities and deficiencies;”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS includes procedures for reporting and correcting major non-conformities.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(5)“Procedures for reporting and correcting major non-conformities;”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS names the responsible person or persons in management who have authority to stop all vessel operations pending correction of non-conformities and deficiencies.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(6)(i)“Stop all vessel operations pending the correction of non-conformities and deficiencies;”
The owner or managing operator must ensure the TSMS includes procedures for recordkeeping and for assigning personnel with requisite experience and expertise to carry out the survey elements.
46 CFR 137.210(a)(8)“Procedures for assigning personnel with requisite experience and expertise to carry out the elements of the survey.”
The owner or managing operator may survey items on a schedule over time instead of as one event, provided the interval between successive surveys of any item does not exceed 1 year, unless otherwise prescribed.
46 CFR 137.210(b)“but may survey items on a schedule over time, provided that the interval between successive surveys of any item does not exceed 1 year, unless otherwise prescribed.”
Common questions
Do I have to survey everything at once under an internal survey program?
No. The owner or managing operator is not required to survey the items described in § 137.220 as one event. Items may be surveyed on a schedule over time.
“is not required to survey the items as described in § 137.220 as one event”
How often must each item be surveyed in an internal survey program?
The interval between successive surveys of any item must not exceed 1 year, unless otherwise prescribed.
“provided that the interval between successive surveys of any item does not exceed 1 year, unless otherwise prescribed.”
Who must have authority to stop vessel operations under the TSMS internal survey program?
The TSMS must identify the responsible person or persons in management who have authority to stop all vessel operations pending correction of non-conformities and deficiencies.
“The responsible person or persons in management who have the authority to:”
The text of 46 CFR 137.210
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Internal survey program
(a) The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel that has selected the TSMS option and who has chosen to demonstrate vessel compliance through an internal survey program must ensure that the TSMS applicable to the vessel includes:
(1) Procedures for surveying and testing described in § 137.215;
(2) Equipment, systems, and onboard procedures to be surveyed;
(3) Identification of items that would need repair or replacement before the vessel could continue in service, such as deficiencies identified on Form CG-835, “Notice of Merchant Marine Inspection Requirements,” noted survey deficiencies, non-conformities, or other corrective action reports;
(4) Procedures for documenting and reporting non-conformities and deficiencies;
(5) Procedures for reporting and correcting major non-conformities;
(6) The responsible person or persons in management who have the authority to:
(i) Stop all vessel operations pending the correction of non-conformities and deficiencies;
(ii) Oversee vessel compliance activities; and
(iii) Track and verify that non-conformities and deficiencies were corrected;
(7) Procedures for recordkeeping; and
(8) Procedures for assigning personnel with requisite experience and expertise to carry out the elements of the survey.
(b) The owner or managing operator is not required to survey the items as described in § 137.220 as one event, but may survey items on a schedule over time, provided that the interval between successive surveys of any item does not exceed 1 year, unless otherwise prescribed.
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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.