(a) An inspection for certification is a prerequisite of the reissuance of a certificate of inspection.

You must submit a written application for an inspection for certification to the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. To renew a Certificate of Inspection, you must submit an application at least 30 days before the expiration of the tank vessel's current certificate. You must use Form CG-3752, Application for Inspection of U.S. Vessel, and submit it to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection at, or nearest to, the port where the vessel is located. When renewing a Certificate of Inspection, you must schedule an inspection for certification within the 3 months before the expiration date of the current Certificate of Inspection.

(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this subchapter with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. All approved material is available for inspection at the U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG), 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509, and is available from the sources listed below. It is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

(b) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169, 617-770-3000, http://www.nfpa.org.

(1) NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2010 Edition, effective December 5, 2009, IBR approved for § 91.25-20(a).

(2) [Reserved]

The inspection for certification shall include an inspection of the structure, boilers, and other pressure vessels, machinery, and equipment. The inspection shall be such as to insure that the vessel, as regards the structure, boilers and other pressure vessels, and their appurtenances, piping, main and auxiliary machinery, electrical installations, lifesaving appliances, fire-detecting and extinguishing equipment, pilot boarding equipment, pollution prevention equipment, and other equipment, is in satisfactory condition and fit for the service for which it is intended, and that it complies with the applicable regulations for such vessel and determine that the vessel is in possession of a valid certificate issued by the Federal Communications Commission, if required. The lights, means of making sound signals, and distress signals carried by the vessel shall also be subject to the above mentioned inspection for the purpose of ensuring that they comply with the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

For inspection procedures of Lifesaving appliances and arrangements, see subchapter W (Lifesaving Appliances and Arrangements) of this chapter.

(a) At each inspection for certification, periodic inspection and at other times necessary, the inspector will determine that all fire-extinguishing equipment is in suitable condition and may require any tests necessary to determine the condition of the equipment. The inspector will determine if the tests and inspections required by § 97.15-60 of this subchapter have been conducted. At each inspection for certification and periodic inspection, the inspector will check fire-extinguishing equipment with the following tests and inspections:

(1) Portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 (incorporated by reference, see § 91.25-7) as amended here:

(i) Certification or licensing by a state or local jurisdiction as a fire extinguisher servicing agency will be accepted by the Coast Guard as meeting the personnel certification requirements of NFPA 10 for annual maintenance and recharging of extinguishers.

(ii) Monthly inspections required by NFPA 10 may be conducted by the owner, operator, person-in-charge, or a designated member of the crew.

(iii) Non-rechargeable or non-refillable extinguishers must be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10; however, the annual maintenance need not be conducted by a certified person and can be conducted by the owner, operator, person-in-charge, or a designated member of the crew.

(iv) The owner or managing operator must provide satisfactory evidence of the required servicing to the marine inspector. If any of the equipment or records have not been properly maintained, a qualified servicing facility must perform the required inspections, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests. A tag issued by a qualified servicing organization, and attached to each extinguisher, may be accepted as evidence that the necessary maintenance procedures have been conducted.

(2) Fixed fire-extinguishing systems must be checked as noted in Table 91.25-20(a)(2). In addition, all parts of the fixed fire-extinguishing systems, must be examined for excessive corrosion and general conditions.

(3) On all fire-extinguishing systems, all piping controls, valves, and alarms must be checked to ascertain that the system is in operating condition. In this respect steam smothering lines must be checked with at least a 50 p.s.i. air pressure with the ends capped or by blowing steam through the lines at the designed pressure.

(4) The fire main system must be operated and the pressure checked at the most remote and highest outlets. All firehose must be subjected to a test pressure equivalent to the maximum pressure to which they may be subjected in service, but not less than 100 p.s.i.

(a) At each inspection for certification and periodic inspection, the inspectors shall conduct the following tests and inspections of hull equipment:

(1) All watertight doors shall be operated locally by manual power and also by hydraulic or electric power if so fitted. Where remote control is fitted, the doors shall also be operated by the remote control apparatus.

(2) The remote controls of all valves shall be operated.

(3) The owner, operator or master shall provide the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection with all current valid certificates and registers of cargo gear issued by an organization recognized by the Commandant under § 31.10-16.

(b) Every acceptable cargo gear certificate and/or register shall be properly executed by a person authorized to do so and shall:

(1) Certify as to the tests and examinations conducted;

(2) Show the dates on which the tests and examinations were conducted; and

(3) Indicate that the cargo gear described in the certificate or register complies with the standards of the organization or association authorized to issue the certificate or register.

(c) Competent persons for the purposes of this section are defined as—

(1) Surveyors of a classification society recognized by the Commandant under 46 U.S.C. 3316.

(2) Surveyors of a cargo gear organization recognized by the Commandant under § 31.10-16.

(3) Responsible officials or employees of the testing laboratories, companies, or organizations who conduct tests of pieces of loose cargo gear, wire rope, or the annealing of gear as may be required by the standards of the organization or association authorized to issue the certificate or register.

(d) The registers issued in connection with cargo gear certification must have all required entries fully completed as of the dates indicated, shall be kept current, and shall include the following:

(1) A register of the cargo handling machinery and the gear accessory thereto carried on the vessel named therein;

(2) Certification of the testing and examination of winches, derricks, and their accessory gear;

(3) Certification of the testing and examination of cranes, hoists, and their accessory gear;

(4) Certification of the testing and examination of chains, rings, hooks, shackles, swivels, and blocks;

(5) Certification of the testing and examination of wire rope;

(6) Certification of the heat-treatment of chains, rings, hooks, shackles, and swivels which require such treatment; and,

(7) Certification of the annual thorough examinations of gear not required to be periodically heat-treated.

For inspection procedures of electrical engineering equipment and systems see subchapter J (Electrical Engineering) of this chapter.

(a) For inspection procedures of marine engineering equipment and systems, see subchapter F (Marine Engineering) of this chapter.

(a) For inspection and tests of tanks containing certain dangerous cargoes in bulk, see part 98 of this subchapter.

At each inspection for certification and periodic inspection, the inspector shall examine the vessel to determine that it meets the vessel design and equipment requirements for pollution prevention in 33 CFR part 155, subpart B.

(a) At each inspection for certification and periodic inspection, the quarters, toilets, and washing spaces, galleys, serving pantries, lockers, etc., shall be examined by the inspector to be assured that they are in a sanitary condition.

(a) At each inspection for certification and periodic inspection, the inspector shall examine the tank tops and bilges in the machinery spaces to see that there is no accumulation of oil which might create a fire hazard.

(a) Nothing in this subpart 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.

(b) [Reserved]