46 CFR 139.160: Coast Guard oversight of towing safety organizations

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section describes Coast Guard oversight activities. The Coast Guard will give a TPO 48 hours' notice of a site visit, with one exception. It may inspect records, interview auditors or surveyors, observe audits or surveys, request a TSMS copy, and require a TSMS revision.

Applies toThe text applies to a TPO that receives a Coast Guard site visit and to an owner or managing operator who holds a TSMS.

What it says

  1. The Coast Guard will notify the TPO 48 hours before a site visit, unless the visit responds to a complaint or other evidence of regulatory non-compliance.

    46 CFR 139.160(a)“The Coast Guard will provide notice to the TPO 48 hours in advance of any site visit, unless the visit is in response to a complaint or other evidence of regulatory non-compliance.”

  2. During a site visit, the Coast Guard may inspect a TPO's records.

    46 CFR 139.160(a)(1)“Inspect a TPO's records;”

  3. During a site visit, the Coast Guard may interview auditors or surveyors to aid in evaluating the organization.

    46 CFR 139.160(a)(2)“Conduct interviews of auditors or surveyors to aid in the evaluation of the organization; and”

  4. During a site visit, the Coast Guard may observe audits or surveys.

    46 CFR 139.160(a)(3)“Observe audits or surveys.”

  5. The Coast Guard may require the owner or managing operator to make a copy of the TSMS available on request.

    46 CFR 139.160(b)“The Coast Guard may require that the owner or managing operator make available a copy of the TSMS upon request.”

  6. The Coast Guard may require a revision of a previously approved TSMS if it determines that requirements of this subchapter are not met.

    46 CFR 139.160(c)“The Coast Guard may require a revision of a previously approved TSMS if it is determined that requirements of this subchapter are not met.”

Common questions

How much notice does the Coast Guard give before a TPO site visit?

The Coast Guard will give the TPO 48 hours' notice in advance. It does not have to give that notice if the visit responds to a complaint or other evidence of regulatory non-compliance.

“The Coast Guard will provide notice to the TPO 48 hours in advance of any site visit, unless the visit is in response to a complaint or other evidence of regulatory non-compliance.”

Can the Coast Guard ask for a copy of my TSMS?

Yes. The Coast Guard may require the owner or managing operator to make a copy of the TSMS available upon request.

“The Coast Guard may require that the owner or managing operator make available a copy of the TSMS upon request.”

Can the Coast Guard make me revise an approved TSMS?

Yes, it may require a revision of a previously approved TSMS if it determines that requirements of this subchapter are not met.

“The Coast Guard may require a revision of a previously approved TSMS if it is determined that requirements of this subchapter are not met.”

The text of 46 CFR 139.160

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

Coast Guard oversight activities

(a) The Coast Guard will provide notice to the TPO 48 hours in advance of any site visit, unless the visit is in response to a complaint or other evidence of regulatory non-compliance. During the visit, the Coast Guard may:

(1) Inspect a TPO's records;

(2) Conduct interviews of auditors or surveyors to aid in the evaluation of the organization; and

(3) Observe audits or surveys.

(b) The Coast Guard may require that the owner or managing operator make available a copy of the TSMS upon request.

(c) The Coast Guard may require a revision of a previously approved TSMS if it is determined that requirements of this subchapter are not met.

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.