46 CFR 4.06-3: Alcohol and drug testing after serious marine incidents
Last reviewed: November 2, 2026
This section covers the alcohol and drug testing a marine employer must ensure after a casualty or incident that is, or is likely to become, an SMI. Each individual directly involved must be tested within stated time limits unless safety concerns directly related to the incident prevent it. If testing or specimen collection is not done, the marine employer must document the reason on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B.
Applies toMarine employers, for each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.
What it says
Alcohol testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.
46 CFR 4.06-3(a)(1)“Alcohol testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.”
Alcohol testing of each individual must be conducted within 2 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless safety concerns directly related to the incident preclude it.
46 CFR 4.06-3(a)(1)(i)“The alcohol testing of each individual must be conducted within 2 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.”
If safety concerns directly related to the SMI prevent alcohol testing within 2 hours, the testing must be completed as soon as the safety concerns are addressed.
46 CFR 4.06-3(a)(1)(ii)“then alcohol testing must be completed as soon as the safety concerns are addressed.”
Alcohol testing is not required to be conducted more than 8 hours after the SMI occurred.
46 CFR 4.06-3(a)(1)(iii)“Alcohol testing is not required to be conducted more than 8 hours after the occurrence of the SMI.”
The marine employer may use alcohol-testing results from Coast Guard or local law enforcement tests only if the testing meets all of the requirements of this part.
46 CFR 4.06-3(a)(4)“The marine employer may use alcohol-testing results from tests conducted by Coast Guard or local law enforcement personnel to satisfy the alcohol testing requirements of this part only if the alcohol testing meets all of the requirements of this part.”
Drug testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.
46 CFR 4.06-3(b)(1)“Drug testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.”
Drug-test specimens must be collected from each individual within 32 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless safety concerns directly related to the incident preclude it.
46 CFR 4.06-3(b)(1)(i)“The collection of drug-test specimens of each individual must be conducted within 32 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.”
If drug-test specimens were not collected, the marine employer must document the reason on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B.
46 CFR 4.06-3(b)(2)“the marine employer must document on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B the reason why the specimens were not collected.”
Common questions
How soon after a serious marine incident must alcohol testing be done?
Alcohol testing must be conducted within 2 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless safety concerns directly related to the incident preclude it. Alcohol testing is not required more than 8 hours after the SMI.
“The alcohol testing of each individual must be conducted within 2 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.”
How long do I have to collect drug-test specimens after an SMI?
Collection of drug-test specimens must be conducted within 32 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless safety concerns directly related to the incident preclude it.
“The collection of drug-test specimens of each individual must be conducted within 32 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.”
What must the marine employer document if alcohol testing was not conducted?
If the alcohol testing required in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) is not conducted, the marine employer must document the reason on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B.
“the marine employer must document on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B the reason why the testing was not conducted.”
Can alcohol test results from law enforcement be used after an SMI?
The marine employer may use them, but only if the alcohol testing meets all of the requirements of this part.
“The marine employer may use alcohol-testing results from tests conducted by Coast Guard or local law enforcement personnel to satisfy the alcohol testing requirements of this part only if the alcohol testing meets all of the requirements of this part.”
The text of 46 CFR 4.06-3
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of July 30, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Requirements for alcohol and drug testing following a serious marine incident
When a marine employer determines that a casualty or incident is, or is likely to become, an SMI, the marine employer must ensure that the following alcohol and drug testing is conducted:
(a) Alcohol testing. (1) Alcohol testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.
(i) The alcohol testing of each individual must be conducted within 2 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.
(ii) If safety concerns directly related to the SMI prevent the alcohol testing from being conducted within 2 hours of the occurrence of the incident, then alcohol testing must be completed as soon as the safety concerns are addressed.
(iii) Alcohol testing is not required to be conducted more than 8 hours after the occurrence of the SMI.
(2) Alcohol-testing devices must be used according to the procedures specified by the manufacturer of the testing device and by this part.
(3) If the alcohol testing required in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section is not conducted, the marine employer must document on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B the reason why the testing was not conducted.
(4) The marine employer may use alcohol-testing results from tests conducted by Coast Guard or local law enforcement personnel to satisfy the alcohol testing requirements of this part only if the alcohol testing meets all of the requirements of this part.
(b) Drug testing. (1) Drug testing must be conducted on each individual engaged or employed on board the vessel, floating OCS facility, or MODU who is directly involved in the SMI.
(i) The collection of drug-test specimens of each individual must be conducted within 32 hours of when the SMI occurred, unless precluded by safety concerns directly related to the incident.
(ii) If safety concerns directly related to the SMI prevent the collection of drug-test specimens from being conducted within 32 hours of the occurrence of the incident, then the collection of drug-test specimens must be conducted as soon as the safety concerns are addressed.
(2) If the drug-test specimens required in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii) of this section were not collected, the marine employer must document on Forms CG-2692 and CG-2692B the reason why the specimens were not collected.
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 July 30, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.