46 CFR 15.818: GMDSS at-sea maintainer competence evidence
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers people employed or engaged to maintain Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment at sea. When a person's service is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15, that person must provide documentary evidence of competence. The text incorporates SOLAS Regulation IV/15 by reference and sends the reader to § 15.103.
Applies toEvery person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15.
What it says
Every person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea must provide documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain that equipment at sea, when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15.
“Every person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea, when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15”
The evidence a person must provide is documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea.
“must provide documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea”
SOLAS Regulation IV/15 is incorporated by reference, and the text sends the reader to § 15.103 for that.
“SOLAS Regulation IV/15 (incorporated by reference, see § 15.103)”
Common questions
Who must show proof of competence to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea?
Every person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea must provide it, when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15.
“Every person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea, when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15”
What must a GMDSS at-sea maintainer provide?
The maintainer must provide documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea.
“must provide documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea”
Where is SOLAS Regulation IV/15 incorporated by reference?
The text says SOLAS Regulation IV/15 is incorporated by reference and sends the reader to § 15.103.
“SOLAS Regulation IV/15 (incorporated by reference, see § 15.103)”
The text of 46 CFR 15.818
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) At-sea Maintainer
Every person employed or engaged to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea, when the service of a person so designated is used to meet the maintenance requirements of SOLAS Regulation IV/15 (incorporated by reference, see § 15.103), must provide documentary evidence that they are competent to maintain GMDSS equipment at sea.
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.