NVIC 11-80: Structural plan review for aluminum small passenger vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
NVIC 11-80 is Coast Guard guidance that helps the local OCMI review structural plans for aluminum small passenger vessels (Subchapter T). It covers deep-Vee crewboat-type hulls without referring plans to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch. The guidelines are not mandatory on the designer.
Applies toAluminum small passenger vessels (Subchapter T) with hull forms similar to commercial crewboats, meeting the applicability parameters in Enclosure (1).
What it says
The guidelines are intended to let the local OCMI review structural plans of aluminum small passenger vessels without referring them to a Coast Guard Merchant Marine Technical Branch.
“are intended to facilitate plan review of such vessels by the local Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), without having to refer the plans to a”
The guidelines apply to hull forms similar to those of commercial crewboats used primarily in the oil exploitation industry.
“The guidelines are applicable to hull forms similar to those of commercial crewboats used primarily in the oil exploitation industry.”
Such boats have deep-Vee hull forms, lengths from 60 to 135 feet, and speeds up to about 24 knots.
“Such boats have deep-Vee hull forms, lengths from 60 to 135 feet, and speeds up to about 24 knots.”
Boats meeting the guidelines are structurally satisfactory for full Ocean Service applications.
“Boats meeting the guidelines are structurally satisfactory for full Ocean Service applications.”
The Coast Guard will use the attached plan review guidance for structural plan review and approval of applicable aluminum boats until other acceptable guidance or standards are available.
NVIC 11-80 c.“will be used by the Coast Guard for structural plan review and approval of applicable aluminum boats until other acceptable guidance or standards are available.”
Enclosure (1) should be used in structural plan review of small passenger vessels that meet the applicability parameters stated within it.
“should be used in structural plan review of small passenger vessels which meet the applicability parameters stated within.”
Vessels that do not meet the applicability parameters should be reviewed by other means or referred to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch for review.
“Vessels which do not meet the applicability parameters should be reviewed by other means or referred to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch for review.”
The guidelines are not mandatory on the designer, and other acceptable structural standards such as Lloyd's Rules or American Bureau of Shipping Rules may be used as appropriate.
“These guidelines are not mandatory on the designer, and any other acceptable structural standards such as Lloyd's Rules or American Bureau of Shipping Rules may be used as appropriate.”
Common questions
Are the NVIC 11-80 aluminum vessel guidelines mandatory?
No. The guidelines are not mandatory on the designer, and other acceptable structural standards may be used as appropriate.
“These guidelines are not mandatory on the designer, and any other acceptable structural standards such as Lloyd's Rules or American Bureau of Shipping Rules may be used as appropriate.”
What size and speed of boats do the NVIC 11-80 guidelines cover?
They cover boats with deep-Vee hull forms, lengths from 60 to 135 feet, and speeds up to about 24 knots.
“Such boats have deep-Vee hull forms, lengths from 60 to 135 feet, and speeds up to about 24 knots.”
What happens to vessels that do not meet the NVIC 11-80 applicability parameters?
They should be reviewed by other means or referred to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch for review.
“Vessels which do not meet the applicability parameters should be reviewed by other means or referred to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch for review.”
Why did the Coast Guard issue NVIC 11-80?
The absence of published standards forced OCMIs to forward plans to District mmt branches, which increased workload and turn around time.
“The absence of published standards has forced the OCMI’s to forward plans to District mmt branches for formal structural analysis and review.”
The text of NVIC 11-80
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 11-80 (main body; enclosures not shown)
Structural Plan Review Guidelines for Aluminum Small Passenger Vessels
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES COAST GUARD U.S. Coast Guard (G-MMT-4) Washington, DC 20593 (202) 426-2197 NVIC 11-80 9 Oct 1980 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 11-80 Subj: .Structural Plan Review Guidelines for Aluminum Small Passenger Vessel
Structural Plan Review Guidelines for Aluminum Small Passenger Vessels — PURPOSE. The attached guidelines for structural plan review of small passenger vessels
(Subchapter T) constructed of aluminum are intended to facilitate plan review of such vessels by the local Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), without having to refer the plans to a Coast Guard Merchant Marine Technical (mmt) Branch for review. The guidelines are applicable to hull forms similar to those of commercial crewboats used primarily in the oil exploitation industry. Such boats have deep-Vee hull forms, lengths from 60 to 135 feet, and speeds up to about 24 knots. Boats meeting the guidelines are structurally satisfactory for full Ocean Service applications.
Structural Plan Review Guidelines for Aluminum Small Passenger Vessels — DISCUSSION.
a. The standards specified in Subpart 177.10 of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, for small passenger vessels envisioned a fairly simple process for structural plan review. For many years the experience of the local OCMI and the few structural standards and guidelines that were available to him were sufficient for most structural approval purposes. b. The industrial crewboat industry in this country began and has flourished over the past three decades primarily within the local boundaries of the New Orleans Marine Inspection Zone. The evolution of the modern crewboat was gradual, and the knowledge and experience of the local OCMI was sufficient for most routine plan approval of aluminum crewboats and similar small passenger vessels. In recent years, however, the structural designs have become more sophisticated, and the boats are being built elsewhere around the country. The absence of published standards has forced the OCMI’s to forward plans to District mmt branches for formal structural analysis and review. This has increased both the plan review workload and the turn around time for plans. The lack of established structural standards for these boats has been a problem in mmt as well. c. There have been a number of technical papers the subject within the last 10 years, and various organizations are presently working on guidelines or standards that my eventually be applied to these boats. The similarity of hull forms and operational service of crewboats makes possible general guidelines that are applicable to most of these vessels. The plan review guidance which is attached will be used by the Coast Guard for structural plan review and approval of applicable aluminum boats until other acceptable guidance or standards are available. NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 11-80
Structural Plan Review Guidelines for Aluminum Small Passenger Vessels — ACTION. Enclosure (1) contains guidelines based on satisfactory historical experience, and it
should be used in structural plan review of small passenger vessels which meet the applicability parameters stated within. Vessels which do not meet the applicability parameters should be reviewed by other means or referred to a Merchant Marine Technical Branch for review. These guidelines are not mandatory on the designer, and any other acceptable structural standards such as Lloyd's Rules or American Bureau of Shipping Rules may be used as appropriate. End: (1) Aluminum Small Passenger Vessel Structure Review Guide NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: Ce: Baltimore (75); San Francisco, Mobile, Guam, Pittsburgh, Providence, Norfolk (50); Galveston (30); Cleveland, Portland, OR, Sturgeon Bay (25); San Diego, Savannah, Buffalo, Corpus Christi (20); Tampa, Milwaukee, Louisville, Detroit, Toledo, Nashville, Anchorage (15); Portland, ME, Duluth, Charleston, Huntington, Minneapolis-St Paul (Dubuque), San Juan (10); Juneau, Cincinnati, Memphis, Wilmington, Paducah, Albany (5) extra Cm: New Orleans (250); New York (200); Seattle (100); Houston (50); Terminal Is. (LA-LB), Philadelphia (40) extra Em: Morgan City (200); New London, Houma (30); Ludington (8) extra Ketchikan, Lake Charles (5) extra
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.