1625-0032 Stat/Authority

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 115.645

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§ 115.630 The Alternative Hull Examination (AHE) Program application.
If your vessel meets the eligibility
criteria in § 115.625 of this part, you
may apply to the AHE Program. You
must submit an application at least 90
days before the requested hull examination date to the Officer in Charge,
Marine Inspection (OCMI) who will
oversee the survey. The application
must include—
(a) The proposed time and place for
conducting the hull examination;
(b) The name of the participating
diving contractor and underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) company which must be accepted by the
OCMI under § 115.650;
(c) The name and qualifications of
the third party examiner. This person
must be familiar with the inspection
procedures and his or her responsibilities under this program. The OCMI has
the discretionary authority to accept
or deny use of a particular third party
examiner using the criteria established
in 46 CFR 114.400;
(d) A signed statement from your
vessel’s master, chief engineer, or the
person in charge describing the vessel’s
overall condition, level of maintenance, known or suspected damage, underwater body cleanliness (if known),
and the anticipated draft of the vessel
at the time of the examination;
(e) Plans or drawings that illustrate
the external details of the hull below
the sheer strake;
(f) A detailed plan for conducting the
hull examination in accordance with
§§ 115.645 and 115.650 of this part, which
must address all safety concerns related to the removal of sea valves during the inspection; and
(g) A preventative maintenance plan
for your vessel’s hull, its related systems and equipment.

preliminary examination is to assess
the overall condition of the vessel’s
hull and identify any specific concerns
to be addressed during the underwater
hull examination.
(b) If you use an underwater ROV as
the predominate means to examine
your vessel’s hull plating, a preliminary examination and the participation of a third party examiner will not
be necessary.
(c) The preliminary examination is
required only upon the vessel’s entry
or review into the AHE program.
[USCG–2000–6858, 67 FR 21081, Apr. 29, 2002]

§ 115.640

Pre-Survey meeting.

(a) You must conduct a pre-survey
meeting to discuss the details of the
AHE procedure with the Officer in
Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI). If
you exclusively use divers to examine
the underwater hull plating, the third
party examiner must attend the meeting and you must present the results of
the preliminary examination. If you
use an underwater remotely operated
vehicle (ROV) as the predominate
means to examine the vessel’s hull
plating, then a representative of the
ROV operating company must attend
the pre-survey meeting and address the
underwater ROV’s capabilities and limitations related to your vessel’s hull
design and configuration.
(b) A vessel owner, operator, or designated agent must request this meeting in writing at least 30 days in advance of the examination date.
(c) The pre-survey meeting may be
conducted by teleconference, if agreed
to in advance by the OCMI.
[USCG–2000–6858, 67 FR 21081, Apr. 29, 2002, as
amended by USCG–2000–6858, 69 FR 47383,
Aug. 5, 2004]

[USCG–2000–6858, 67 FR 21080, Apr. 29, 2002, as
amended by USCG–2000–6858, 69 FR 47383,
Aug. 5, 2004]

§ 115.645 Alternative Hull Examination
(AHE) Procedure.

§ 115.635 Preliminary examination requirements.
(a) If you exclusively use divers to
examine the underwater hull plating,
you must arrange to have a preliminary examination conducted by a third
party examiner, with the assistance of
qualified divers. The purpose of the

(a) To complete the underwater survey you must—
(1) Perform a general examination of
the underwater hull plating and a detailed examination of all hull welds,
propellers, tailshafts, rudders, and
other hull appurtenances;
(2) Examine all sea chests;

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