Nothing in this part shall be construed as limiting the inspector from making such tests or inspections as he or she deems necessary to be assured of the safety and seaworthiness of the vessel.

(a) The owner or operator of an OSV shall make the vessel available for inspection by a marine inspector—

(1) Each time an accident occurs, or a defect is discovered that affects—

(i) The safety of the vessel; or

(ii) The effectiveness or completeness of its lifesaving, fire-fighting, or other equipment; or

(2) Whenever any important repairs or renewals are made.

(b) The inspection is to ensure that—

(1) The necessary repairs or renewals have been effectively made;

(2) The material and workmanship used to accomplish the repairs or renewals are satisfactory; and

(3) The OSV complies with the regulations in this subchapter.

(a) The cognizant OCMI may issue a permit to proceed to another port for repair if in the judgment of this OCMI the vessel can complete the trip safely even though the Certificate of Inspection has expired or is about to expire.

(b) A “Permit to Proceed to another Port for Repairs”, Form CG-948, will be issued by the cognizant OCMI to the owner, operator, or master of the OSV and states the conditions under which the vessel may proceed to another port. The Permit will be issued only upon the written application of the owner, operator, or master, and only after the surrender of the vessel's Certificate of Inspection to the cognizant OCMI.

(c) The Permit will state on its face the conditions under which it is issued and whether the OSV may carry cargo, goods, supplies, equipment, or offshore workers.

(d) The Permit must be readily available aboard the OSV.

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, cranes, if installed, must comply with §§ 107.258 through 107.260, 108.601, 109.437, 109.439, 109.521, 109.525, and 109.527 of this chapter.

(b) The manufacturer of a crane may have tests and inspections conducted in compliance with § 107.259 of this chapter, if the surveyor conducting them for the American Bureau of Shipping or the International Cargo Gear Bureau certifies their conduct as required by § 107.259(c) of this chapter.

(a) Unless one or more extensions are authorized by the Commandant (CG-CVC), each OSV must be placed in drydock or hauled out for examination twice each 5 years with no interval between examinations exceeding 3 years.

(b) The owner or operator shall notify the cognizant OCMI whenever the OSV is drydocked for any reason. This OCMI, upon notification, will determine whether to assign a marine inspector to examine the underwater hull of the vessel.

(c) The internal structural members of an OSV must be examined at the same intervals required for drydocking by paragraph (a) of this section.

(d) At each drydocking required by paragraph (a) of this section, for an OSV of 100 or more gross tons, a tailshaft survey must be conducted as required by § 61.20-15 of this chapter.

(e) At each drydocking required by paragraph (a) of this section, for an OSV of less than 100 gross tons, the propeller or tailshaft must be drawn for examination if the cognizant OCMI deems drawing it necessary.

(f) Vessels less than 15 years of age (except wooden hull vessels) that are in salt water service with a twice in 5 year drydock interval may be considered for an underwater survey instead of alternate drydock examinations, provided the vessel is fitted with an effective hull protection system. Vessel owners or operators must apply to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), for approval of underwater surveys instead of alternate drydock examinations for each vessel. The application must include the following information:

(1) The procedure to be followed in carrying out the underwater survey;

(2) The location where the underwater survey will be accomplished;

(3) The method to be used to accurately determine the diver location relative to the hull;

(4) The means that will be provided for examining through-hull fittings;

(5) The means that will be provided for taking shaft bearing clearances;

(6) The condition of the vessel, including the anticipated draft of the vessel at the time of the survey;

(7) A description of the hull protection system; and

(8) The name and qualifications of any third party examiner.

(g) Vessels otherwise qualifying under paragraph (f) of this section, that are 15 years of age or older, may be considered for continued participation in or entry into the underwater survey program on a case-by-case basis if—

(1) Before the vessel's next scheduled drydocking, the owner or operator submits a request for participation or continued participation to the cognizant District Commander;

(2) During the vessel's next drydocking, after the request is submitted, no appreciable hull deterioration is indicated as a result of a complete set of hull gaugings; and

(3) The results of the hull gauging and the results of the Coast Guard drydock examination together with the recommendation of the OCMI, are submitted to Commandant (CG-CVC) for final approval.

(a) Except in an emergency, no repairs or alterations to the hull or machinery, or to equipment that affects the safety of the OSV, may be made without notice to the cognizant OCMI in the inspection zone where the repairs or alterations are to be made. When the repairs or alterations have been made, notice must be given to this OCMI as soon as practicable.

(b) When emergency repairs or alterations have been made as permitted under paragraph (a) of this section, the master, owner, or operator must notify this OCMI as soon as practicable after the emergency.

(c) Except as provided by paragraphs (b) and (e) of this section, drawings of repairs or alterations must be approved, before work starts, by the cognizant OCMI or, when necessary, by the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center (CO, MSC). Drawings will not be needed if deemed unnecessary by this OCMI or by the CO, MSC.

(d) When the cognizant OCMI deems inspection necessary, the repairs or alterations must be inspected by a marine inspector.

(e) Submission of drawings is not required for repairs in kind, but the applicable drawings approved under subpart A of part 127 of this subchapter must be made available to the marine inspector upon request.

(a) NFPA 306 must be used as a guide in conducting the examinations and issuances of certificates required by this section.

(b) Until an examination has determined that work can proceed safely, no riveting, welding, burning, or other hot work may commence.

(c) Each examination must be conducted as follows:

(1) At any port or site inside the United States or its territories and possessions, a marine chemist certified by the NFPA must make the examination. If the services of such a chemist are not reasonably available, the cognizant OCMI, upon the recommendation of the contractor and the owner or operator of the OSV, may authorize another person to make the examination. If this indicates that a repair or alteration, or hot work, can be undertaken safely, the person performing the examination shall issue a certificate, setting forth the spaces covered and any necessary conditions to be met, before the work starts. These conditions must include any requirements necessary to maintain safe conditions in the spaces covered and must include any necessary further examinations and certificates. In particular the conditions must include precautions necessary to eliminate or minimize hazards caused by protective coatings or by cargo residues.

(2) At any port or site outside the United States or its territories and possessions, where the services of a certified marine chemist or other person authorized by the cognizant OCMI are not reasonably available, the master, owner, or operator of the vessel shall make the examination and a proper entry in the OSV's logbook.

(d) The master shall obtain a copy of each certificate issued by the person making the examination described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The master, through and for the persons under his control, shall maintain safe conditions aboard the OSV by full observance of each condition to be met, listed in the certificate issued under paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(a) Offshore workers may be carried aboard an OSV in compliance with this subchapter. The maximum number of offshore workers authorized for carriage will be endorsed on the vessel's Certificate of Inspection; but in no case will the number of offshore workers authorized for carriage exceed 36, unless the vessel meets the applicability and construction requirements of subpart F of part 127 of this subchapter.

(b) No more than 12 offshore workers may be carried aboard an OSV certificated under this subchapter when on an international voyage, unless the vessel holds a valid passenger-ship-safety certificate (Form CG-968) issued in compliance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 74/83).

No passengers as defined by 46 U.S.C. 2101(21)(B) may be carried aboard an OSV except in an emergency.