46 CFR 138.510: Required attendance for TSMS compliance questions

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers attendance when there is evidence that a certified TSMS does not comply with this part. The TPO and the owner or managing operator may have to explain or demonstrate areas of the TSMS to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard may also require a third party to attend, and it will not pay for that attendance.

Applies toThe TPO and the owner or managing operator, and any third party the Coast Guard requires to attend, where there is evidence that a TSMS with an issued TSMS certificate is not in compliance with this part.

What it says

  1. The TPO and the owner or managing operator may be required to explain or demonstrate areas of the TSMS to the Coast Guard.

    46 CFR 138.510(a)“The TPO and the owner or managing operator may be required to explain or otherwise demonstrate areas of the TSMS to the Coast Guard”

  2. This may be required if there is evidence that a TSMS, for which a TSMS certificate was issued, is not in compliance with the provisions of this part.

    46 CFR 138.510(a)“if there is evidence that a TSMS, for which a TSMS certificate was issued, is not in compliance with the provisions of this part”

  3. The Coast Guard may require a third party to attend at the vessel or at the office of the owner or managing operator for this purpose.

    46 CFR 138.510(a)“The Coast Guard may require a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator for this purpose.”

  4. The Coast Guard will not bear any of the costs of a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator under this provision.

    46 CFR 138.510(b)“The Coast Guard will not bear any of the costs for a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator when complying with this provision.”

Common questions

When can the Coast Guard require the TPO and owner to explain the TSMS?

The Coast Guard may require this if there is evidence that a certified TSMS is not in compliance with the provisions of this part.

“if there is evidence that a TSMS, for which a TSMS certificate was issued, is not in compliance with the provisions of this part”

Can the Coast Guard require a third party to attend the vessel or office?

Yes. The Coast Guard may require a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator.

“The Coast Guard may require a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator for this purpose.”

Does the Coast Guard pay for a third party's attendance?

No. The Coast Guard will not bear any of the costs for a third party's attendance under this provision.

“The Coast Guard will not bear any of the costs for a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator when complying with this provision.”

The text of 46 CFR 138.510

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

Required attendance

(a) The TPO and the owner or managing operator may be required to explain or otherwise demonstrate areas of the TSMS to the Coast Guard if there is evidence that a TSMS, for which a TSMS certificate was issued, is not in compliance with the provisions of this part. The Coast Guard may require a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator for this purpose.

(b) The Coast Guard will not bear any of the costs for a third party's attendance at the vessel or the office of the owner or managing operator when complying with this provision.

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.