46 CFR 15.1113: Security personnel endorsements and training on ISPS vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets security qualification rules for people aboard seagoing vessels of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies. Vessel Security Officers must hold a valid VSO endorsement. Other personnel and contractors need endorsements, course certificates, onboard training, or knowledge as described.

Applies toSeagoing vessels of 500 GT or more to which the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code applies.

What it says

  1. All persons performing duties as Vessel Security Officer (VSO) on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies must hold a valid endorsement as VSO.

    46 CFR 15.1113(a)“all persons performing duties as Vessel Security Officer (VSO) must hold a valid endorsement as VSO.”

  2. A person who holds a VSO endorsement is deemed to meet the requirements for vessel personnel with designated security duties in paragraph (c).

    46 CFR 15.1113(b)“Persons who hold an endorsement as VSO will be deemed to satisfy the requirements for vessel personnel with designated security duties in paragraph (c) of this section.”

  3. After March 24, 2014, all personnel with designated security duties on these vessels must hold a valid endorsement, or a certificate of course completion or documentary evidence of onboard training from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course meeting the requirements of 33 CFR 104.220.

    46 CFR 15.1113(c)“all personnel with designated security duties must hold a valid endorsement as vessel personnel with designated security duties, or a certificate of course completion or documentary evidence of onboard training”

  4. Holders of the security duties endorsement, course certificate, or onboard training evidence are deemed to meet the requirements for all other vessel personnel in paragraph (e).

    46 CFR 15.1113(d)“will be deemed to satisfy the requirements for all other vessel personnel in paragraph (e) of this section.”

  5. After March 24, 2014, all other vessel personnel on these vessels must hold a valid security awareness endorsement, a certificate of course completion from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course, or documentary evidence of onboard training meeting the requirements of 33 CFR 104.225.

    46 CFR 15.1113(e)“all other vessel personnel must hold a valid endorsement in security awareness, or a certificate of course completion from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course”

  6. After March 24, 2014, all contractors, whether part-time, full-time, temporary, or permanent, must know the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225, through training or equivalent job experience.

    46 CFR 15.1113(f)“all contractors, whether part-time, full-time, temporary, or permanent, must have knowledge of the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225, through training or equivalent job experience.”

  7. Vessel owners and operators must maintain records documenting the contractor knowledge requirement and produce those records to the Coast Guard upon request.

    46 CFR 15.1113(f)“Vessel owners and operators must maintain records documenting this requirement and produce those records to the Coast Guard upon request.”

Common questions

Who must hold a VSO endorsement?

All persons performing duties as Vessel Security Officer on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies must hold a valid endorsement as VSO.

“all persons performing duties as Vessel Security Officer (VSO) must hold a valid endorsement as VSO.”

Do contractors on ISPS Code vessels need security training?

Yes. After March 24, 2014, all contractors must have knowledge of the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225, through training or equivalent job experience.

“all contractors, whether part-time, full-time, temporary, or permanent, must have knowledge of the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225, through training or equivalent job experience.”

Do vessel owners have to keep security training records?

Vessel owners and operators must maintain records documenting the contractor knowledge requirement. They must produce those records to the Coast Guard upon request.

“Vessel owners and operators must maintain records documenting this requirement and produce those records to the Coast Guard upon request.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.1113

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

Security personnel

(a) Onboard a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code applies, all persons performing duties as Vessel Security Officer (VSO) must hold a valid endorsement as VSO.

(b) Persons who hold an endorsement as VSO will be deemed to satisfy the requirements for vessel personnel with designated security duties in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) After March 24, 2014, onboard a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies, all personnel with designated security duties must hold a valid endorsement as vessel personnel with designated security duties, or a certificate of course completion or documentary evidence of onboard training from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course meeting the requirements of 33 CFR 104.220.

(d) Persons who hold an endorsement as vessel personnel with designated security duties, or a certificate of course completion or documentary evidence of onboard training from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course for vessel personnel with designated security duties, will be deemed to satisfy the requirements for all other vessel personnel in paragraph (e) of this section.

(e) After March 24, 2014, onboard a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies, all other vessel personnel must hold a valid endorsement in security awareness, or a certificate of course completion from an appropriate Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course, or documentary evidence of onboard training meeting the requirements of 33 CFR 104.225.

(f) After March 24, 2014, onboard a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more to which the ISPS Code applies, all contractors, whether part-time, full-time, temporary, or permanent, must have knowledge of the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225, through training or equivalent job experience. Vessel owners and operators must maintain records documenting this requirement and produce those records to the Coast Guard upon request.

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.