1625-0032 Stat/Authority

Coast Guard, DOT

§ 176.630

(1) A vessel that is exposed to salt
water more than three months in any
12 month period since the last examination must undergo a drydock examination and an internal structural at
least once every two years; and
(2) A vessel that is exposed to salt
water not more than three months in
any 12 month period since the last examination must undergo a drydock examination and an internal structural
examination at least once every five
years.
(d) Whenever damage or deterioration to hull plating or structural members that may affect the seaworthiness
of a vessel is discovered or suspected,
the cognizant OCMI may conduct an
internal structural examination in any
affected space including fuel tanks, and
may require the vessel to be drydocked
or taken out of service to assess the extent of the damage, and to effect permanent repairs. The OCMI may also decrease the drydock examination intervals to monitor the vessel’s structural
condition.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 953, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51356, Sept. 30, 1997]

§ 176.610 Scope of drydock and internal structural examinations.
(a) A drydock examination conducted
in compliance with § 176.600 must be
conducted while the vessel is hauled
out of the water or placed in a drydock
or slipway. During the examination all
accessible parts of the vessel’s underwater body and all through hull fittings, including the hull plating and
planking,
appendages,
propellers,
shafts, bearings, rudders, sea chests,
sea valves, and sea strainers shall be
made available for examination. Sea
chests, sea valves, and sea strainers
must be opened for examination. On
wooden vessels, fastenings may be required to be pulled for examination.
(b) An internal structural examination conducted in compliance with
§ 176.600 may be conducted while the
vessel is afloat or out of the water and
consists of a complete examination of
the vessel’s main strength members,
including the major internal framing,
the hull plating and planking, voids,
and ballast, cargo, and fuel oil tanks.
Where the internal framing, plating, or
planking of the vessel is concealed, sec-

tions of the lining, ceiling or insulation
may be removed or the parts otherwise
probed or exposed so that the inspector
may be satisfied as to the condition of
the hull structure. Fuel oil tanks need
not be cleaned out and internally examined if the marine inspector is able
to determine by external examination
that the general condition of the tanks
is satisfactory.
§ 176.612

Notice and plans required.

(a) The owner or managing operator
shall notify the cognizant OCMI as far
in advance as possible whenever a vessel is to be hauled out or placed in a
drydock or slipway in compliance with
§ 176.600 or to undergo repairs or alterations affecting the safety of the vessel, together with the nature of any repairs or alterations contemplated. Hull
repairs or alternations that affect the
safety of the vessel include but are not
limited to the replacement, repair, or
refastening of planking, plating, or
structural members including the repair of cracks.
(b) Whenever a vessel is hauled out or
placed in a drydock or slipway in excess of the requirements of this subpart
for the purpose of maintenance, including, but not limited to, changing a propeller, painting, or cleaning the hull,
no report need be made to the cognizant OCMI.
(c) The owner or managing operator
of each vessel that holds a Load Line
Certificate shall make plans showing
the vessel’s scantlings available to the
Coast Guard marine inspector whenever the vessel undergoes a drydock examination or internal structural examination or whenever repairs or alterations affecting the safety or seaworthiness of the vessel are made to
the vessel’s hull.
[CGD 85–080, 61 FR 953, Jan. 10, 1996, as
amended at 62 FR 51356, Sept. 30, 1997]

§ 176.630

Tailshaft examinations.

(a) The marine inspector may require
any part or all of the propeller shafting
to be drawn for examination of the
shafting and stern bearing of a vessel
whenever the condition of the shafting
and bearings are in question.

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§ 176.670

46 CFR Ch. I (10–1–01 Edition)

(b) The marine inspector may conduct a visual examination and may require nondestructive testing of the propeller shafting whenever the condition
of shafting is in question.
§ 176.670 Extension of examination intervals.
The intervals between drydock examinations and internal structural examinations specified in § 176.600 of this
part may be extended by the cognizant
OCMI or Commandant.

Subpart G—Repairs and
Alterations
§ 176.700 Permission for repairs and
alterations.
(a) Repairs or alterations to the hull,
machinery, or equipment that affect
the safety of the vessel must not be
made without the approval of the cognizant OCMI, except during an emergency. When repairs are made during
an emergency, the owner, managing
operator, or master shall notify the
OCMI as soon as practicable after such
repairs or alternations are made. Repairs or alterations that affect the
safety of the vessel include, but are not
limited to: replacement, repair, or refastening of deck or hull planking,
plating, and structural members; repair of plate or frame cracks; damage
repair or replacement, other than replacement in kind, of electrical wiring,
fuel lines, tanks, boilers and other
pressure vessels, and steering, propulsion and power supply systems; alterations affecting stability; and repair or
alteration of lifesaving, fire detecting,
or fire extinguishing equipment.
(b) The owner or managing operator
shall submit drawings, sketches, or
written specifications describing the
details of any proposed alterations to
the cognizant OCMI. Proposed alterations must be approved by the OCMI
before work is started.
(c) Drawings are not required to be
submitted for repairs or replacements
in kind.
(d) The OCMI may require an inspection and testing whenever a repair or
alteration is undertaken.

§ 176.702 Installation tests and inspections.
Whenever a launching appliance, survival craft, rescue boat, fixed gas fire
extinguishing system, machinery, fuel
tank, or pressure vessel is installed
aboard a vessel after completion of the
initial inspection for certification of
the vessel, as replacement equipment
or as a new installation, the owner or
managing operator shall conduct the
tests and make the vessel ready for the
inspections required by § 176.402(d) to
the satisfaction of the cognizant OCMI.
§ 176.704 Breaking of safety valve
seals.
The owner, managing operator, or
master shall notify the cognizant OCMI
as soon as practicable after the seal on
a boiler safety valve on a vessel is broken.
§ 176.710 Inspection and testing prior
to hot work.
(a) An inspection for flammable or
combustible gases must be conducted
by a certified marine chemist or other
person authorized by the cognizant
OCMI in accordance with the provisions of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 306, ‘‘Control of Gas
Hazards on Vessels,’’ before alterations, repairs, or other operations involving riveting, welding, burning, or
other fire producing actions may be
made aboard a vessel:
(1) Within or on the boundaries of
fuel tanks; or
(2) To pipelines, heating coils, pumps,
fittings, or other appurtenances connected to fuel tanks.
(b) An inspection required by paragraph (a) of this section must be conducted as required by this paragraph.
(1) In ports or places in the United
States or its territories and possessions, the inspection must be conducted by a marine chemist certificated by the NFPA. However, if the
services of a certified marine chemist
are not reasonably available, the cognizant OCMI, upon the recommendation of the vessel owner or managing
operator, may authorize another person to inspect the vessel. If the inspection indicates that the operations can
be undertaken safely, a certificate setting forth this fact in writing must be

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