NVIC 04-74: Stability information for load line certificate vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This circular is Coast Guard guidance. It sets procedures between the American Bureau of Shipping or another recognized classification society and the Coast Guard. The goal is to make sure the stability information required by the Load Line Regulations is aboard all vessels receiving a Load Line Certificate.
Applies toThe circular covers inspected and uninspected United States vessels receiving a Load Line Certificate and foreign vessels receiving Form B Load Line Certificates.
What it says
The circular sets up procedures between the American Bureau of Shipping or another recognized classification society and the Coast Guard to make sure required stability information is aboard every vessel receiving a Load Line Certificate.
“This circular establishes procedures between the American Bureau of Shipping or other”
The master of every vessel receiving a 1966 International Load Line Certificate, Coastwise Load Line Certificate, or Form B Load Line Certificate must be provided with enough stability information to guide him on the vessel's stability under varying conditions of service.
“must be provided with sufficient stability information to give him guidance as to the stability of the vessel under varying conditions of service.”
The Coast Guard must approve the stability information before any Load Line Certificate will be authorized.
“This inf6rmation must be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard before any Load Line Certificate will be authorized.”
The American Bureau of Shipping shall inform the vessel owner that a stability analysis will be required and that the Coast Guard should be contacted as soon as possible.
NVIC 04-74(a)(1)“The American Bureau of Shipping shall inform the owner of the vessel that a stability analysis will be required on his vessel”
If the shipowner asks for another recognized classification society under 46 CFR 42.07-40, the Commandant will inform the shipowner that a stability analysis is required.
NVIC 04-74(a)(2)“the Commandant will inform the shipowner that a stability analysis is required.”
The extent of the stability analysis should be as outlined in Table I.
NVIC 04-74 b“The extent of this analysis should be as outlined in Table I.”
After reviewing the stability analysis, the Coast Guard will inform the assigning authority as indicated in Table I.
NVIC 04-74 c“After review of the stability analysis, the Coast Guard will inform the assigning authority”
At each annual survey, the assigning authority will assure itself that the required stability information is aboard the vessel before it executes the annual validation.
NVIC 04-74 e“the assigning authority will assure itself that the required stability information is aboard the vessel before executing the annual validation.”
Common questions
Who must get stability information for a load line certificate?
The master of every vessel receiving a 1966 International Load Line Certificate, Coastwise Load Line Certificate, or Form B Load Line Certificate must be provided with sufficient stability information.
“The master of every vessel receiving a 1966 International Load Line Certificate,”
Does the Coast Guard have to approve stability information before a load line certificate is issued?
Yes. The information must be approved by the Coast Guard before any Load Line Certificate will be authorized.
“This inf6rmation must be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard before any Load Line Certificate will be authorized.”
What happens at the annual survey for load line vessels?
The assigning authority will assure itself that the required stability information is aboard the vessel before executing the annual validation.
“the assigning authority will assure itself that the required stability information is aboard the vessel before executing the annual validation.”
Who is the assigning authority in this circular?
The assigning authority is the American Bureau of Shipping or other recognized classification society.
“the assigning authority (the American Bureau of Shipping or other”
The text of NVIC 04-74
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 04-74 (main body; enclosures not shown)
Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD U.S.COASTGUARD (G-MMT-5/82) 400 SEVENTH STREET SW. WASHINGTON. DC. 20590 PHONE. (202) 426-2187 NVC 4-74 27 MAR 1974 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO.4-74 Subj: Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates
Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates — Purpose. This circular establishes procedures between the American Bureau of Shipping or other
recognized classification society and the U. S. Coast Guard to insure that the stability information required by the Load Line Regulations (46 CFR Subchapter E) is aboard all vessels receiving a Load Line Certificate.
Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates — Background. The master of every vessel receiving a 1966 International Load Line Certificate,
Coastwise Load Line Certificate, or Form B Load Line Certificate must be provided with sufficient stability information to give him guidance as to the stability of the vessel under varying conditions of service. This inf6rmation must be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard before any Load Line Certificate will be authorized.
Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates — Problem. In order that the assigning authority (the American Bureau of Shipping or other
recognized classification society) can issue the Load Line Certificate as quickly as possible, a need exists to establish a method of (a) informing the assigning authority that the stability information has been approved by the U. S. Coast Guard, and (b) getting that information aboard the vessel.
Stability Information Required on Inspected and Uninspected United States Vessels Receiving a Load Line Certificate and Foreign Vessels Receiving Form B Load Line Certificates — Procedures.
a. (1) The American Bureau of Shipping shall inform the owner of the vessel that a stability analysis will be required on his vessel and that the U. S. Coast Guard should be contacted as soon as possible. (2) If the shipowner requests the appointment of another recognized classification society in accordance with 46 CFR 42.07-40, the Commandant will inform the shipowner that a stability analysis is required. b. The extent of this analysis should be as outlined in Table I. c. After review of the stability analysis, the Coast Guard will inform the assigning authority as indicated in Table I. the required stability information is aboard the vessel. e. At each annual survey; the assigning authority will assure itself that the required stability information is aboard the vessel before executing the annual validation. End: (I) TABLE I--PROCEDURES FOR APPROVING STABILITY INFORMATION IN THE ISSUANCE OF LOAD LINE CERTIFICATES
Sections it refers to
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.