Coast Guard Resumes Collecting Inspection Fees

The Coast Guard released a marine safety information bulletin March 21 dealing with fees for Coast Guard inspected towing vessels and those using the TSMS option.

MSIB 02-24 also officially cancels MSIB 04-22, which had previously suspended Coast Guard inspection fees for TSMS option towing vessels under Subchapter M.

The bulletin notes that the Federal Register published its final rule on user fees for inspected towing vessels on December 28, and that as a result the USCG Finance Center resumed billing as of March 27.

The annual fee for 46 CFR Subchapter M towing vessels is $2,184 for a Coast Guard option vessel and $973 for a TSMS option vessel. The annual fee for 46 CFR Subchapter I towing vessels is $2,747 for a Coast Guard option vessel, $1,850 for an ACP option vessel and $2,260 for an SIP option vessel.

Questions regarding vessel inspection fee payment, billing, appeals and refunds may be sent to the USCG Finance Center at FIN-SMB-CustomerService@uscg.mil. For more information, visit www.uscg.mil/fincen/VF.