46 CFR 139.110: Classification societies as approved TPOs

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says which organizations meet the requirements of a TPO for purposes of this part without further approval. A recognized classification society may act as a third-party auditor, and an authorized classification society may act as a third-party surveyor. Their employees must hold proper qualifications for the service they perform.

Applies toRecognized classification societies and authorized classification societies that act as TPOs under this part.

What it says

  1. A recognized classification society that has satisfied the requirements in 46 CFR 8.230 meets the requirements of a TPO for purposes of this part and may work as a third-party auditor.

    46 CFR 139.110(a)“A recognized classification society, which has satisfied the requirements in 46 CFR 8.230, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party auditor.”

  2. An authorized classification society that has been authorized under 46 CFR part 8, subpart C or D, meets the requirements of a TPO for purposes of this part and may work as a third-party surveyor.

    46 CFR 139.110(b)“An authorized classification society, which has been authorized under 46 CFR part 8, subpart C or D, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party surveyor.”

  3. Organizations qualifying as TPOs under paragraph (a) or (b) must ensure that employees providing services under this part hold proper qualifications for the particular type of service being performed.

    46 CFR 139.110(c)“must ensure that employees providing services under this part hold proper qualifications for the particular type of service being performed.”

Common questions

Can a recognized classification society act as a third-party auditor?

Yes. A recognized classification society that has satisfied the requirements in 46 CFR 8.230 meets the TPO requirements for this part and may work as a third-party auditor.

“A recognized classification society, which has satisfied the requirements in 46 CFR 8.230, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party auditor.”

Can an authorized classification society work as a third-party surveyor?

Yes. An authorized classification society that has been authorized under 46 CFR part 8, subpart C or D, may work as a third-party surveyor.

“An authorized classification society, which has been authorized under 46 CFR part 8, subpart C or D, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party surveyor.”

Must TPO employees be qualified?

Yes. Organizations qualifying as TPOs under paragraph (a) or (b) must ensure their employees hold proper qualifications for the particular type of service being performed.

“must ensure that employees providing services under this part hold proper qualifications for the particular type of service being performed.”

The text of 46 CFR 139.110

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

Organizations not subject to further approval

(a) A recognized classification society, which has satisfied the requirements in 46 CFR 8.230, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party auditor.

(b) An authorized classification society, which has been authorized under 46 CFR part 8, subpart C or D, meets the requirements of a TPO for the purposes of this part and may perform the work as a third-party surveyor.

(c) The organizations qualifying as TPOs under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section must ensure that employees providing services under this part hold proper qualifications for the particular type of service being performed.

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.