46 CFR 15.515: Crew complement required by certificate of inspection

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says no vessel may be navigated unless it has in its service and onboard the crew complement required by the COI, except as provided by § 15.725. A passenger vessel must have that crew whenever passengers are embarked, although the Master may allow reduced crew with OCMI approval. No vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 will be navigated unless an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC directs and controls it.

What it says

  1. Except as provided by § 15.725, no vessel may be navigated unless it has in its service and onboard the crew complement required by the COI.

    46 CFR 15.515(a)“Except as provided by § 15.725, no vessel may be navigated unless it has in its service and onboard the crew complement required by the COI.”

  2. Any time passengers are embarked on a passenger vessel, the vessel must have the crew complement required by the COI, whether it is underway, at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground.

    46 CFR 15.515(b)“the vessel must have the crew complement required by the COI, whether the vessel is underway, at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground”

  3. The Master may allow reduced crew for limited or special operating conditions, subject to the approval of the OCMI.

    46 CFR 15.515(b)“the Master may allow reduced crew for limited or special operating conditions subject to the approval of the OCMI”

  4. No vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 will be navigated unless it is under the direction and control of an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC.

    46 CFR 15.515(c)“No vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 will be navigated unless it is under the direction and control of an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC.”

Common questions

Does a passenger vessel need its required crew when made fast to shore?

Yes. When passengers are embarked on a passenger vessel, it must have the crew complement required by the COI, even when made fast to shore, at anchor, or aground.

“the vessel must have the crew complement required by the COI, whether the vessel is underway, at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground”

Can a Master allow reduced crew on a passenger vessel?

The Master may allow reduced crew for limited or special operating conditions. This is subject to the approval of the OCMI.

“the Master may allow reduced crew for limited or special operating conditions subject to the approval of the OCMI”

Who must direct a vessel subject to inspection?

A vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 must be under the direction and control of an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC.

“No vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 will be navigated unless it is under the direction and control of an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.515

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

Compliance with certificate of inspection

(a) Except as provided by § 15.725, no vessel may be navigated unless it has in its service and onboard the crew complement required by the COI.

(b) Any time passengers are embarked on a passenger vessel, the vessel must have the crew complement required by the COI, whether the vessel is underway, at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground. However, the Master may allow reduced crew for limited or special operating conditions subject to the approval of the OCMI.

(c) No vessel subject to inspection under 46 U.S.C. 3301 will be navigated unless it is under the direction and control of an individual who holds an appropriate officer endorsement on their MMC.

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.