46 CFR 137.305: Documenting compliance under the TSMS option

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section tells towing vessel owners or managing operators who selected the TSMS option how to document compliance with this subpart. They must provide objective evidence of compliance with the section that matches the vessel's survey program. They must also provide objective evidence of a drydock and internal structural examination.

Applies toIt applies to the owner or managing operator of a towing vessel who has selected the TSMS option.

What it says

  1. The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel who has selected the TSMS option must document compliance with this subpart.

    “The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel, who has selected the TSMS option, must document compliance with this subpart as follows:”

  2. For a vessel under the external survey program, the owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.310.

    46 CFR 137.305(a)“For vessels under the external survey program, provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.310.”

  3. For a vessel under the internal survey program, the owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.315.

    46 CFR 137.305(b)“For vessels under the internal survey program, provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.315.”

  4. The owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence that the vessel has undergone a drydock and internal structural examination, including options permitted in § 137.320 or § 137.322.

    46 CFR 137.305(c)“Provide objective evidence that the vessel has undergone a drydock and internal structural examination, including options permitted in § 137.320 or § 137.322.”

Common questions

Who must document compliance under the TSMS option?

The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel who has selected the TSMS option must document compliance with this subpart.

“The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel, who has selected the TSMS option, must document compliance with this subpart as follows:”

What evidence is needed for the external survey program under TSMS?

For vessels under the external survey program, the owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.310.

“For vessels under the external survey program, provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.310.”

Is a drydock examination required for the TSMS option?

Yes. The owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence of a drydock and internal structural examination, including options permitted in § 137.320 or § 137.322.

“Provide objective evidence that the vessel has undergone a drydock and internal structural examination, including options permitted in § 137.320 or § 137.322.”

The text of 46 CFR 137.305

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

Documenting compliance for the TSMS option

The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel, who has selected the TSMS option, must document compliance with this subpart as follows:

(a) For vessels under the external survey program, provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.310.

(b) For vessels under the internal survey program, provide objective evidence of compliance with § 137.315.

(c) Provide objective evidence that the vessel has undergone a drydock and internal structural examination, including options permitted in § 137.320 or § 137.322.

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.