46 CFR 151.04-2: Inspection of unmanned tank barges

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the inspection interval for unmanned tank barges subject to the regulations in this subchapter. Each barge must be inspected every five years. The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, may require more frequent inspections if necessary.

Applies toEvery unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter.

What it says

  1. Every unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter must be inspected every five years.

    46 CFR 151.04-2(a)“Every unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter shall be inspected every five years.”

  2. The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, may require more frequent inspections if necessary to see that the hull, equipment and appliances comply with the marine inspection laws and the regulations of this subchapter and other subchapters where applicable.

    46 CFR 151.04-2(a)“More frequent inspections may be required, if necessary, by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, to see that the hull, equipment and appliances of the vessel comply with the marine inspection laws”

Common questions

How often must an unmanned tank barge be inspected?

Every unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter must be inspected every five years.

“Every unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter shall be inspected every five years.”

Can inspections of a tank barge be required more often than every five years?

Yes. The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, may require more frequent inspections if necessary to see that the vessel complies with the applicable laws and regulations.

“More frequent inspections may be required, if necessary, by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, to see that the hull, equipment and appliances of the vessel comply with the marine inspection laws”

The text of 46 CFR 151.04-2

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

Inspection required

(a) Every unmanned tank barge subject to the regulations in this subchapter shall be inspected every five years. More frequent inspections may be required, if necessary, by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, to see that the hull, equipment and appliances of the vessel comply with the marine inspection laws, and the regulations of this subchapter and other subchapters where applicable.

(b) [Reserved]

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.