46 CFR 139.125: Coast Guard approval of a TPO

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers who reviews and approves a TPO and how the Coast Guard handles requests. It says the Coast Guard will notify the organization in writing of its decision. It also lists four events that end an approval.

Applies toOrganizations requesting approval as a TPO, and TPOs whose approval meets the requirements of this part.

What it says

  1. The Commandant delegates to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) the authority to review and approve, and to suspend and revoke approval.

    46 CFR 139.125(a)“The Commandant delegates to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) the authority to carry out the review and approval described in this section”

  2. The Coast Guard will review the request and notify the organization in writing whether the request is granted.

    46 CFR 139.125(b)“The Coast Guard will review the request and notify the organization in writing whether their request is granted.”

  3. If the Coast Guard denies a request, it will give the organization the reasons and describe the corrections required for approval.

    46 CFR 139.125(c)“the Coast Guard will inform the organization of the reasons for the denial and will describe what corrections are required for an approval to be granted.”

  4. An approval for a TPO that meets the requirements of this part expires five years after the last day of the month in which it is granted.

    46 CFR 139.125(d)(1)“Five years after the last day of the month in which it is granted;”

  5. An approval expires when the TPO gives notice that it will no longer offer towing vessel audit and/or survey services.

    46 CFR 139.125(d)(2)“When the TPO gives notice that it will no longer offer towing vessel audit and/or survey services;”

  6. An approval expires when the Coast Guard revokes it in accordance with § 139.150.

    46 CFR 139.125(d)(3)“When revoked by the Coast Guard in accordance with § 139.150; or”

  7. An approval expires on the date of a change in ownership, as defined in § 136.110, of the TPO for which approval was granted.

    46 CFR 139.125(d)(4)“On the date of a change in ownership, as defined in § 136.110, of the TPO for which approval was granted.”

Common questions

Who approves a TPO?

The Commandant delegates review and approval authority to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE). That authority includes suspending and revoking approval.

“The Commandant delegates to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) the authority to carry out the review and approval described in this section”

What happens if a TPO request is denied?

The Coast Guard will tell the organization why it was denied. It will also describe the corrections required for approval.

“the Coast Guard will inform the organization of the reasons for the denial and will describe what corrections are required for an approval to be granted.”

When does a TPO approval expire?

An approval expires five years after the last day of the month in which it is granted. It also expires on notice that services will end, on revocation, or on a change in ownership.

“Five years after the last day of the month in which it is granted;”

The text of 46 CFR 139.125

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

Approval of TPO

(a) The Commandant delegates to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) the authority to carry out the review and approval described in this section, and the related authority to suspend and revoke approval.

(b) The Coast Guard will review the request and notify the organization in writing whether their request is granted.

(c) If a request for approval is denied, the Coast Guard will inform the organization of the reasons for the denial and will describe what corrections are required for an approval to be granted.

(d) An approval for a TPO that meets the requirements of this part will expire:

(1) Five years after the last day of the month in which it is granted;

(2) When the TPO gives notice that it will no longer offer towing vessel audit and/or survey services;

(3) When revoked by the Coast Guard in accordance with § 139.150; or

(4) On the date of a change in ownership, as defined in § 136.110, of the TPO for which approval was granted.

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.