46 CFR 26.15-1: Coast Guard boarding of uninspected vessels

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026

This section covers Coast Guard boarding of uninspected vessels. An uninspected vessel that is underway and hailed by a Coast Guard vessel must stop and lay to, or maneuver so the boarding officer can come aboard. It also says how boarding vessels and officers identify themselves.

Applies toEvery uninspected vessel, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, that is underway and hailed by a Coast Guard vessel.

What it says

  1. An uninspected vessel that is underway and hailed by a Coast Guard vessel must stop immediately and lay to, or must maneuver so the Coast Guard boarding officer can come aboard.

    46 CFR 26.15-1(a)“every uninspected vessel, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, if underway and upon being hailed by a Coast Guard vessel, must stop immediately and lay to”

  2. Failing to permit a Coast Guard boarding officer to board, or refusing to comply, subjects the operator or owner of the vessel to the penalties provided in law.

    46 CFR 26.15-1(a)“Failure to permit a Coast Guard boarding officer to board a vessel or refusal to comply will subject the operator or owner of the vessel to the penalties provided in law.”

  3. Coast Guard boarding vessels will be identified by displaying the Coast Guard ensign as a symbol of authority, and Coast Guard personnel will wear Coast Guard uniform.

    46 CFR 26.15-1(b)“Coast Guard boarding vessels will be identified by the display of the Coast Guard ensign as a symbol of authority and the Coast Guard personnel will be dressed in Coast Guard uniform.”

  4. On boarding a vessel, the Coast Guard boarding officer will identify himself to the master, owner, or operator and explain his mission.

    46 CFR 26.15-1(b)“The Coast Guard boarding officer upon boarding a vessel will identify himself to the master, owner, or operator and explain his mission.”

Common questions

What must I do if a Coast Guard vessel hails my uninspected vessel?

If your uninspected vessel is underway, it must stop immediately and lay to, or maneuver so the boarding officer can come aboard.

“must stop immediately and lay to, or must maneuver in such a way to permit the Coast Guard boarding officer to come aboard.”

What happens if I refuse a Coast Guard boarding?

The operator or owner of the vessel is subject to the penalties provided in law.

“Failure to permit a Coast Guard boarding officer to board a vessel or refusal to comply will subject the operator or owner of the vessel to the penalties provided in law.”

How can I tell a Coast Guard boarding vessel?

It is identified by displaying the Coast Guard ensign as a symbol of authority, and the Coast Guard personnel will be in uniform.

“Coast Guard boarding vessels will be identified by the display of the Coast Guard ensign as a symbol of authority”

The text of 46 CFR 26.15-1

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

May board at any time

(a) To facilitate the boarding of vessels by the commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard in the exercise of their authority, every uninspected vessel, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, if underway and upon being hailed by a Coast Guard vessel, must stop immediately and lay to, or must maneuver in such a way to permit the Coast Guard boarding officer to come aboard. Failure to permit a Coast Guard boarding officer to board a vessel or refusal to comply will subject the operator or owner of the vessel to the penalties provided in law.

(b) Coast Guard boarding vessels will be identified by the display of the Coast Guard ensign as a symbol of authority and the Coast Guard personnel will be dressed in Coast Guard uniform. The Coast Guard boarding officer upon boarding a vessel will identify himself to the master, owner, or operator and explain his mission.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 U.S.C. 2101

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.