NVIC 01-01: Inspecting amphibious passenger carrying vehicles

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This circular is Coast Guard guidance that supplements the certification of passenger carrying amphibious vehicles under Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter T. It says OCMIs should base plan review, inspection and certification on the circular's guidance. It also says owners, operators, designers and builders must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards.

Applies toThe circular addresses Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection and owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians.

What it says

  1. The circular provides supplemental guidance for certifying passenger carrying amphibious vehicles under Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter T - Small Passenger Vessels (under 100 gross tons) (46 CFR Parts 175-187).

    “This Circular provides supplemental guidance for the certification of passenger carrying amphibious vehicles under Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter T”

  2. OCMIs should ensure that Coast Guard plan review, inspection and certification of amphibious vehicles is based on the guidance in this circular.

    NVIC 01-01 a.“should ensure that Coast Guard plan review, inspection, and certification of amphibious vehicles is based on the guidance contained in this circular.”

  3. The Coast Guard recommends that OCMIs forward new or unusual designs, modifications and other alterations to amphibious vehicles through their chain of command to G-MOC, G-MSE or the MSC as appropriate.

    NVIC 01-01 a.“It is recommended that new or unusual designs, modifications and or other alterations to amphibious vehicles be forwarded from OCMIs via their chain of command”

  4. Owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards.

    NVIC 01-01 a.“Owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards.”

  5. OCMIs should encourage operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles to also follow these guidelines.

    NVIC 01-01 a.“OCMIs should encourage operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles to also follow these guidelines.”

  6. OCMIs should review this guidance at each inspection for certification or reinspection and agree upon an implementation plan and timeline to modify existing amphibians as necessary, bearing in mind local risks and passenger safety.

    NVIC 01-01 b.“OCMIs should carefully review the contents of this guidance at each inspection for certification or reinspection and agree upon a satisfactory implementation plan and timeline”

Common questions

Who must become familiar with the regulations for passenger carrying amphibious vehicles?

Owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards.

“Owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards.”

Are operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles encouraged to follow NVIC 1-01?

The circular says OCMIs should encourage operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles to also follow these guidelines. It does not say the circular requires them to.

“OCMIs should encourage operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles to also follow these guidelines.”

What does NVIC 1-01 supersede?

It supersedes Marine Safety Manual, Volume II, Material Inspection, COMDTINST M16000.7 (Series), Section B, Chapter 4.R.3.

“Marine Safety Manual, Volume II, Material Inspection, COMDTINST M16000.7 (Series), Section B, Chapter 4.R.3. is superseded.”

The text of NVIC 01-01

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 01-01 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Inspection of amphibious passenger carrying vehicles.

Commanding Officer 2100 2nd Street SW United States Coast Guard Washington, DC 20593 Staff Symbol: G-MOC Phone: (202) 267-2978 COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 1-01 11 DECEMBER NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 1-01 Subj: INSPECTION OF AMPHIBIOUS PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLES

Inspection of amphibious passenger carrying vehicles. — PURPOSE. This Circular provides supplemental guidance for the certification of passenger

carrying amphibious vehicles under Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter T - Small Passenger Vessels (under 100 gross tons) (46 CFR Parts 175-187).

Inspection of amphibious passenger carrying vehicles. — ACTION.

a. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) should ensure that Coast Guard plan review, inspection, and certification of amphibious vehicles is based on the guidance contained in this circular. It is recommended that new or unusual designs, modifications and or other alterations to amphibious vehicles be forwarded from OCMIs via their chain of command to the Coast Guard Office of Compliance (G-MOC), Office of Design and Engineering Standards (G-MSE) or Marine Safety Center (MSC) as appropriate. Owners, operators, designers and builders of passenger carrying amphibians must become familiar with the applicable regulations and standards. To facilitate a timely inspection for certification, they are also urged to closely follow the guidelines of enclosure (1). OCMIs should encourage operators of non-inspected amphibious vehicles to also follow these guidelines. b. The Coast Guard recognizes that changes may be needed to existing amphibious vehicles. OCMIs should carefully review the contents of this guidance at each inspection for certification or reinspection and agree upon a satisfactory implementation plan and timeline to modify existing amphibians, as necessary, bearing in mind local risks and the safety of passengers.

Inspection of amphibious passenger carrying vehicles. — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Marine Safety Manual, Volume II, Material Inspection, COMDTINST M16000.7

(Series), Section B, Chapter 4.R.3. is superseded.

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. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.