Coast Guard Issues First COI Under Sub M

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance announced April 20 that Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg had issued an initial Certificate of Inspection (COI) to the towing vessel Endeavor of Marine Towing of Tampa.

“This historic moment marks the first COI to be issued in accordance with the Subchapter M towing vessel regulations,” the Coast Guard said in a press release.

The Endeavor is an 86.7-foot, 4,200 hp. vessel used throughout Tampa Bay as an assist and escort vessel.

All towing vessels are required to comply with the provisions of 46 CFR Subchapter M by July 20, 2018. There is a phase-in period for issuance of the COI, and the Coast Guard is encouraging owners and operators to initiate contact and coordinate early scheduling of inspections with the local Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections (OCMI).

Subchapter M resources, checklists, job aids and more can be found on the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise’s website.