NVIC 02-62: Maintaining watertight bulkhead integrity on inspected vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This circular advises inspection personnel, vessel operators, and others about the need to maintain the integrity of watertight bulkheads. Maintaining integrity is mandatory for passenger vessels and certain special type vessels. For other vessels, inspectors note and recommend correction of exceptions, but correction is not mandatory for certification.
Applies toThe circular applies to inspected vessels, with different action for passenger vessels, special type vessels where watertight subdivision was a condition of original approval, and other vessels.
What it says
For passenger vessels, maintaining the watertight integrity of all bulkheads, including any flat forming part of bulkhead steps or recesses, as originally constructed and approved, is mandatory for continued certification.
NVIC 02-62 Action (a)“maintenance of watertight integrity of all bulkheads, including any flat forming a part of bulkhead steps or recesses, originally so constructed and approved, is mandatory for continued certification.”
The same mandatory maintenance applies to special type vessels where compliance with watertight subdivision was a condition of original approval.
NVIC 02-62 Action (a)“This is also the case for special type vessels, where in compliance with watertight subdivision was a condition of original approval.”
For other vessels, inspectors will note all exceptions to watertight integrity and will recommend their correction.
NVIC 02-62 Action (b)“In the case of other vessels, inspectors will note all exceptions to watertight integrity and will recommend their correction.”
For other vessels, correction is not mandatory for certification, but the exceptions shall be included in the vessel's inspection records and the owner or operator shall be advised in writing.
NVIC 02-62 Action (b)“any such exceptions shall be included in the inspection records for the vessel and the owner or operator, as the case may be, shall be advised thereof in writing.”
The circular does not countenance violations of integrity in tanks or in other parts of a vessel where the regulations specifically require integrity.
NVIC 02-62 Action (c)“Nothing herein shall be taken as countenancing violations of integrity in the case of tanks or in other portions of a vessel where such integrity is specifically required by the regulations.”
Violations of watertight integrity from excessive structural wastage or other causes that adversely affect seaworthiness as related to normal operating conditions shall be required to be corrected.
NVIC 02-62 Action (c)“Violations of water-tight integrity resulting from excessive structural wastage or from other causes which adversely affect the seaworthiness of a vessel as related to its normal operating conditions shall be required to be corrected.”
Common questions
Is maintaining watertight bulkhead integrity mandatory on passenger vessels?
Yes. For passenger vessels, maintaining watertight integrity of bulkheads as originally constructed and approved is mandatory for continued certification.
“maintenance of watertight integrity of all bulkheads, including any flat forming a part of bulkhead steps or recesses, originally so constructed and approved, is mandatory for continued certification.”
Must other vessels correct watertight integrity exceptions to be certified?
No. Completion of corrective action is not a mandatory requirement for certification for other vessels. Inspectors will still note the exceptions and recommend correction.
“Completion of such corrective action will not be a mandatory requirement for certification”
Why does the Coast Guard not enforce the American Bureau of Shipping bulkhead provisions?
The circular says the specified number and location of bulkheads is not related to any specific degree of floodability, so the provisions are not regarded as a basis for mandatory enforcement.
“the provisions of this section are not regarded as forming a basis for mandatory enforcement of bulkhead watertight integrity by the Coast Guard”
The text of NVIC 02-62
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 02-62 (main body; enclosures not shown)
Watertight Bulkheads in All Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity
UNITED STATE COAST GUARD COMMANDANT U.S. COAST GUARD WASNINGYON, DC. NVIC 2-62 29 Jan 1962 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 2-62 Subj: Watertight Bulkheads In Al1 Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity
Watertight Bulkheads in All Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity — Purpose. To advise inspection personnel, vessel operators, and others concerned as to the need for
maintenance of integrity of watertight bulkheads.
Watertight Bulkheads in All Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity — Discussion.
(a) Within about the last 18 months, two tankers have been lost as a consequence of failures in the propelling plant installation resulting in machinery space flooding. In both of these cases, eventual loss was apparently caused by extension of initial flooding through relatively minor openings in bulkheads which were otherwise watertight. Although there was no loss of life in either of these instances, the fact that such loss might have occurred under more unfavorable circumstances cannot be disregarded. When it is realized that in many eases such losses can be prevented by simple inexpensive measures without any adverse effect on the vessel's operation, the wastefulness of not taking such measures becomes apparent. (b) The Coast Guard regulations applicable to passenger vessels are the only regulations containing specific requirements for watertight subdivision. In the case of such vessels, maintenance of watertight integrity is a requirement for certification. In the case of some non-passenger vessels of special type, compliance with watertight subdivision may also have been a condition of original approval. In such eases, maintenance of watertight integrity is also required. (c) For application to remaining vessel type:, reference is made to Section 12 of the Rules For Building and Classing Steel 7essels of the American Bureau of Shipping. This section recognizes the need for water-tight bulkheads and prescribes, based on the vessel's length, the minimum number of watertight bulkheads which ordinarily should be fitted. However, much latitude is permitted in applying this section, and the specified number and location of bulkheads is not related to any specific degree of floodability. For this reason, the provisions of this section are not regarded as forming a basis for mandatory enforcement of bulkhead watertight integrity by the Coast Guard under the provisions of the Law and Regulations making reference to the American Bureau of Shipping Rules.
Watertight Bulkheads in All Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity — Action.
(a) In the case of passenger vessels, maintenance of watertight integrity of all bulkheads, including any flat forming a part of bulkhead steps or recesses, originally so constructed and approved, is mandatory for continued certification. This is also the case for special type vessels, where in compliance with watertight subdivision was a condition of original approval. (b) In the case of other vessels, inspectors will note all exceptions to watertight integrity and will recommend their correction. Completion of such corrective action will not be a mandatory requirement for certification but any such exceptions shall be included in the inspection records for the vessel and the owner or operator, as the case may be, shall be advised thereof in writing. (c) Nothing herein shall be taken as countenancing violations of integrity in the case of tanks or in other portions of a vessel where such integrity is specifically required by the regulations. Violations of water-tight integrity resulting from excessive structural wastage or from other causes which adversely affect the seaworthiness of a vessel as related to its normal operating conditions shall be required to be corrected.
Watertight Bulkheads in All Inspected Vessels Maintenance of Watertight Integrity — Effective date. Upon receipt.
Dist. (SDL No. 74) A: None 3: n(35); c(10); e(5); l(3); bdp(l) C: m(4); o(2); gh(1) D: k(2); gim(l)
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.