46 CFR 139.115: Third-party organization approval and functions

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says the Coast Guard approves TPOs to help ensure towing vessels comply with this subchapter. It lists the functions a TPO may be approved to perform. It also lists the objective evidence an organization must give to be approved.

Applies toOrganizations seeking Coast Guard approval as TPOs under this part, and the towing vessels and owners or managing operators they audit or survey.

What it says

  1. The Coast Guard approves TPOs to carry out functions related to ensuring that towing vessels comply with provisions of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 139.115(a)“The Coast Guard approves TPOs to carry out functions related to ensuring that towing vessels comply with provisions of this subchapter.”

  2. An organization may be approved to audit a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) and the vessels to which it applies, to verify compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 139.115(a)(1)“Conduct audits of a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS), and the vessels to which the TSMS applies, to verify compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter;”

  3. An organization may be approved to issue TSMS certificates to the owner or managing operator who is in compliance with part 138 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 139.115(a)(2)“Issue TSMS certificates to the owner or managing operator who is in compliance with part 138 of this subchapter;”

  4. An organization may be approved to survey towing vessels and to issue survey reports, carried out in compliance with part 137 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 139.115(a)(4)“Issue survey reports detailing the results of surveys, carried out in compliance with part 137 of this subchapter.”

  5. An organization seeking approval under this part must give the Coast Guard objective evidence that its program meets the listed criteria.

    46 CFR 139.115(b)“An organization seeking approval under this part must provide objective evidence to the Coast Guard that its program:”

  6. The organization's program must be independent of the owner or managing operator and vessels that it audits or surveys.

    46 CFR 139.115(b)(1)“Is independent of the owner or managing operator and vessels that it audits or surveys;”

  7. The organization's program must ensure its auditors and surveyors are qualified and maintain continued competence.

    46 CFR 139.115(b)(3)“Ensures its auditors and surveyors are qualified and maintain continued competence;”

  8. The Coast Guard will maintain a list of TPOs and make it available upon request.

    46 CFR 139.115(c)“A list of TPOs will be maintained by the Coast Guard, and made available upon request.”

Common questions

What can a TPO be approved to do for towing vessels?

A TPO may be approved to audit a TSMS and its vessels, issue TSMS certificates, survey towing vessels, and issue survey reports.

“Organizations may be approved to:”

What must an organization show to become a TPO?

It must give the Coast Guard objective evidence that its program meets the listed criteria, including independence and a quality management system acceptable to the Coast Guard.

“Operates within a quality management system acceptable to the Coast Guard;”

Where can I find the list of approved TPOs?

The Coast Guard maintains a list of TPOs and makes it available upon request.

“A list of TPOs will be maintained by the Coast Guard, and made available upon request.”

The text of 46 CFR 139.115

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

General

(a) The Coast Guard approves TPOs to carry out functions related to ensuring that towing vessels comply with provisions of this subchapter. Organizations may be approved to:

(1) Conduct audits of a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS), and the vessels to which the TSMS applies, to verify compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter;

(2) Issue TSMS certificates to the owner or managing operator who is in compliance with part 138 of this subchapter;

(3) Conduct surveys of towing vessels to verify compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter; and

(4) Issue survey reports detailing the results of surveys, carried out in compliance with part 137 of this subchapter.

(b) An organization seeking approval under this part must provide objective evidence to the Coast Guard that its program:

(1) Is independent of the owner or managing operator and vessels that it audits or surveys;

(2) Operates within a quality management system acceptable to the Coast Guard;

(3) Ensures its auditors and surveyors are qualified and maintain continued competence;

(4) Demonstrates the ability to carry out the responsibilities of approval; and

(5) Meets all other requirements of this part.

(c) A list of TPOs will be maintained by the Coast Guard, and made available upon request.

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.