46 CFR 137.212: Coast Guard oversight of TSMS vessel surveys

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers Coast Guard oversight of survey programs for vessels under the TSMS option. If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe a survey program is deficient, the OCMI may take the listed actions. These range from requiring an audit to removing a vessel from the TSMS option.

Applies toVessels under the TSMS option whose survey program the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe is deficient.

What it says

  1. The cognizant OCMI may require an audit or survey of the vessel in the presence of a representative of the cognizant OCMI.

    46 CFR 137.212(a)“Require an audit or survey of the vessel in the presence of a representative of the cognizant OCMI;”

  2. The cognizant OCMI may increase the frequency of the audits.

    46 CFR 137.212(b)“Increase the frequency of the audits;”

  3. For vessels under the internal survey program, the cognizant OCMI may require the vessel to comply with the external survey program requirements of § 137.205.

    46 CFR 137.212(c)“For vessels under the internal survey program, require that the vessel comply with the external survey program requirements of § 137.205;”

  4. The cognizant OCMI may require any other specific action within his or her authority that he or she considers appropriate.

    46 CFR 137.212(d)“Require any other specific action within his or her authority that he or she considers appropriate; or”

  5. For repeatedly deficient surveys, the cognizant OCMI may remove the vessel and or owner or managing operator from using the TSMS option.

    46 CFR 137.212(e)“For repeatedly deficient surveys, remove the vessel and or owner or managing operator from using the TSMS option.”

Common questions

When can the OCMI take action against a vessel's survey program under TSMS?

The cognizant OCMI may act if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that a vessel's survey program is deficient.

“If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe that a vessel's survey program is deficient, that OCMI may:”

Can a vessel be removed from the TSMS option?

Yes. For repeatedly deficient surveys, the OCMI may remove the vessel and or owner or managing operator from using the TSMS option.

“For repeatedly deficient surveys, remove the vessel and or owner or managing operator from using the TSMS option.”

What happens to a vessel in the internal survey program with a deficient survey program?

The OCMI may require the vessel to comply with the external survey program requirements of § 137.205.

“For vessels under the internal survey program, require that the vessel comply with the external survey program requirements of § 137.205;”

The text of 46 CFR 137.212

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

Coast Guard oversight of vessel survey program for vessels under the TSMS option

If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe that a vessel's survey program is deficient, that OCMI may:

(a) Require an audit or survey of the vessel in the presence of a representative of the cognizant OCMI;

(b) Increase the frequency of the audits;

(c) For vessels under the internal survey program, require that the vessel comply with the external survey program requirements of § 137.205;

(d) Require any other specific action within his or her authority that he or she considers appropriate; or

(e) For repeatedly deficient surveys, remove the vessel and or owner or managing operator from using the TSMS option.

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.