46 CFR 138.500: Notifying the OCMI before an external audit

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers notice to the Coast Guard before an external audit of a towing vessel owner or managing operator. The owner or managing operator must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours before the audit. The Coast Guard may send a representative along or conduct its own audit.

Applies toOwners and managing operators of towing vessels, for external audits conducted under this part.

What it says

  1. The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours before an external audit is conducted under this part.

    46 CFR 138.500(a)“The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours prior to an external audit being conducted under this part.”

  2. The Coast Guard may require a Coast Guard representative to accompany the auditor during part or all of an external audit.

    46 CFR 138.500(b)“The Coast Guard may require that a Coast Guard representative accompany the auditor during part, or all, of an external audit.”

  3. The Coast Guard may, at its discretion, conduct a separate audit of the owner or managing operator or its towing vessels.

    46 CFR 138.500(c)“The Coast Guard may conduct a separate audit of the owner or managing operator or its towing vessels, at its discretion.”

Common questions

How much notice must I give before an external audit of my towing vessel?

The owner or managing operator must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours before the external audit.

“must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours prior to an external audit being conducted under this part.”

Can the Coast Guard attend an external audit?

Yes. The Coast Guard may require a representative to accompany the auditor during part or all of the audit.

“The Coast Guard may require that a Coast Guard representative accompany the auditor during part, or all, of an external audit.”

Can the Coast Guard do its own audit of a towing vessel operator?

Yes. The Coast Guard may conduct a separate audit of the owner or managing operator or its towing vessels, at its discretion.

“The Coast Guard may conduct a separate audit of the owner or managing operator or its towing vessels, at its discretion.”

The text of 46 CFR 138.500

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

Notification prior to audit

(a) The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel must notify the local OCMI at least 72 hours prior to an external audit being conducted under this part.

(b) The Coast Guard may require that a Coast Guard representative accompany the auditor during part, or all, of an external audit.

(c) The Coast Guard may conduct a separate audit of the owner or managing operator or its towing vessels, at its discretion.

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.