NVIC 03-73: Intact stability recommendation for ships under 100 meters

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This Coast Guard circular passes along an IMCO recommendation on intact stability for passenger and cargo ships under 100 meters in length. It is guidance and information only. It does not change the stability requirements in the listed parts of 46 CFR.

Applies toIt is issued as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in the design of passenger and cargo vessels.

What it says

  1. The enclosed recommendation comes from an IMCO document. The Coast Guard issues it as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in design.

    “is derived from a document developed by the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) and is issued as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in the design of passenger and cargo vessels.”

  2. The enclosure does not change the intact stability requirements in the listed parts of 46 CFR, or any other stability criteria recently in force.

    “Enclosure (1) does not in any way change the requirements for intact stability found in”

  3. IMCO developed the recommendation as general stability criteria. It was recommended to governments for alternative use to augment their national stability requirements.

    “was recommended to governments for alternative use augmenting their national stability requirements.”

  4. The Coast Guard will refer a designer to this Recommendation only when existing criteria cannot be applied because of unique design or special service.

    “The Coast Guard will refer a designer to this Recommendation only when existing criteria cannot be applied due to unique design or special service.”

Common questions

Does NVIC 03-73 change the stability requirements in 46 CFR?

No. The enclosure does not change the intact stability requirements in the listed 46 CFR parts or any other stability criteria recently in force.

“Enclosure (1) does not in any way change the requirements for intact stability found in”

When will the Coast Guard refer a designer to the IMCO recommendation?

The Coast Guard will refer a designer to it only when existing criteria cannot be applied due to unique design or special service.

“The Coast Guard will refer a designer to this Recommendation only when existing criteria cannot be applied due to unique design or special service.”

Who is NVIC 03-73 meant for?

It is issued as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in the design of passenger and cargo vessels.

“is issued as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in the design of passenger and cargo vessels.”

The text of NVIC 03-73

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 03-73 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Intact Stability Criteria for Passenger and Cargo Ships Under 100 Meters in Length

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES COAST GUARD U.S. COAST GUARD (GMMT-5/82) 400 SEVENTH STREET SW. WASHINGTON. DC 20590 PHONE: (202) 426-2187 NVC 3-73 18 Apr 1973 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSP!CTION CIRCULAR NO. 3-73 Subj: Intact Stability Criteria For Passenger And Cargo Ships Under 100 Meters In Length

Intact Stability Criteria for Passenger and Cargo Ships Under 100 Meters in Length — Purpose. Enclosure (1), "Recommendation On Intact Stability For Passenger and Cargo Ships

Under 100 Meters In Length", is derived from a document developed by the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) and is issued as information to naval architects, marine surveyors and others involved in the design of passenger and cargo vessels.

Intact Stability Criteria for Passenger and Cargo Ships Under 100 Meters in Length — Discussion. Enclosure (1) does not in any way change the requirements for intact stability found in

46 CFR Part 74, Passenger Vessels; 46 CFR Part 93, Cargo and Miscellaneous Vessels; 46 CFR Part 151, Unmanned 3arges; 46 CFR Part 179, Small Passenger Vessels; 46 CFR Part 191, Oceanographic Vessels or any other stability criteria recently in force. Enclosure (1) was developed by IMCO as a general stability criteria and was recommended to governments for alternative use augmenting their national stability requirements. The Coast Guard will refer a designer to this Recommendation only when existing criteria cannot be applied due to unique design or special service. End: (1) Recommendation On Intact Stability For Passenger And Cargo Ships Under 100 Meters In Length DIST: (SDL No. 96) A: None B: n(45); c(l0); q(6); ef(3); bp(l) C: m(4); o(2) D: i(2); k(l) E: o(2) F: None List CG 12

Sections it refers to

  • 46 CFR Part 74
  • 46 CFR Part 93
  • 46 CFR Part 151
  • 46 CFR Part 179
  • 46 CFR Part 191

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.