46 CFR 137.317: Coast Guard oversight of drydock and structural exams

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lets the cognizant OCMI act when he or she has reasonable cause to believe the program for the drydock examination and internal structural examination is deficient. The OCMI may require audits, increase audit frequency, require a TPO examination for vessels under the internal survey program, require other appropriate action, or remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option for continued deficiencies.

What it says

  1. The cognizant OCMI may act if he or she has reasonable cause to believe the program for the drydock examination and internal structural examination is deficient.

    “If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe the program for the drydock examination and internal structural examination is deficient, he or she may:”

  2. The OCMI may require an audit of ongoing drydocking procedures and of documentation applicable to the vessel, in the presence of a representative of the cognizant OCMI.

    46 CFR 137.317(a)“Require an audit of ongoing drydocking procedures and of documentation applicable to the vessel, in the presence of a representative of the cognizant OCMI;”

  3. The OCMI may increase the frequency of the audits.

    46 CFR 137.317(b)“Increase the frequency of the audits;”

  4. For vessels under the internal survey program, the OCMI may require an examination by a TPO.

    46 CFR 137.317(c)“For vessels under the internal survey program, require an examination by a TPO;”

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

    46 CFR 137.317(d)“Require any other action within his or her authority that he or she considers appropriate; or”

  6. For continued deficiencies, the OCMI may remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option.

    46 CFR 137.317(e)“For continued deficiencies, remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option.”

Common questions

Can the Coast Guard remove a vessel from the TSMS option?

Yes, for continued deficiencies. The cognizant OCMI may remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option.

“For continued deficiencies, remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option.”

What can the OCMI do if a drydock examination program looks deficient?

If the OCMI has reasonable cause to believe the program is deficient, he or she may take the actions listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.

“If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe the program for the drydock examination and internal structural examination is deficient, he or she may:”

Can the OCMI require a TPO examination?

Yes, but only for vessels under the internal survey program. For those vessels, the OCMI may require an examination by a TPO.

“For vessels under the internal survey program, require an examination by a TPO;”

The text of 46 CFR 137.317

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

Coast Guard oversight of drydock and internal structural examination program for vessels under the TSMS option

If the cognizant OCMI has reasonable cause to believe the program for the drydock examination and internal structural examination is deficient, he or she may:

(a) Require an audit of ongoing drydocking procedures and of documentation applicable to 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 an examination by a TPO;

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

(e) For continued deficiencies, remove the vessel, owner, managing operator, or all three, from the TSMS option.

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.