Prior to the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016, as outlined in 46 United States Code (USC) §4503(a), applicable fishing vessels of 50 feet overall in length, with a built after July 1, 2013, were required to meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the American Bureau of Shipping or another "Similarly Qualified Organization" approved by the Secretary. The enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016 introduced an alternative-to-Classification Society option for certain commercial fishing vessels.
Alternative-to-Class option: 46 USC §4503(c)(2) permits certain fishing vessels and fish tender vessels that are at least 50 feet overall in length, and not more than 180 feet overall in length as listed on the vessels certificate of documentation or certificate of number, and were built after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016, the option to comply with 46 USC §4503(d) or the alternative requirements established by the Secretary under 46 USC §4503(e).
46 USC §4503(d) requirements are as follows:
(1) The vessel is designed by an individual licensed by a State as a naval architect or marine engineer, and the design incorporates standards equivalent to those prescribed by a classification society to which the Secretary has delegated authority under section §3316 or another qualified organization approved by the Secretary for purposes of this paragraph.
Note: A vessels design may for example incorporate standards equivalent to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards.
(2) Construction of the vessel is overseen and certified as being in accordance with its design by a marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary.
Note: Marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary - In alignment with 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 2.45, the Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) maintains the list of Coast Guard accepted Classification Society organizations.
A listing of Classification Societies that employ marine surveyors accepted by the Secretary to review, examine, survey, or certify the construct, repair, or alteration of a vessel in the United States are:
1. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
2. Bureau Veritas (BV)
3. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK)
4. Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
5. Lloyd’s Register (LR)
6. Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
7. Indian Register of Shipping (IR Class)
(3) The vessel—
(A) completes a stability test performed by a qualified individual;
(B) has written stability and loading instructions from a qualified individual that are provided to the owner or operator; and
(C) has an assigned loading mark.
Note: A qualified individual is interpreted as a marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary (per 46 CFR Subpart 2.45-10).
(4) The vessel is not substantially altered without the review and approval of an individual licensed by a State as a naval architect or marine engineer before the beginning of such substantial alteration.
46 USC §4503(d) requirements are as follows:
(5) The vessel undergoes a condition survey at least twice in 5 years, not to exceed 3 years between surveys, to the satisfaction of a marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary.
(6) The vessel undergoes an out-of-water survey at least once every 5 years to the satisfaction of a certified marine surveyor of an organization accepted by the Secretary.
(7) Once every 5 years and at the time of a substantial alteration to such vessel, compliance of the vessel with the requirements of paragraph (3) is reviewed and updated as necessary.
(8) For the life of the vessel, the owner of the vessel maintains records to demonstrate compliance with this subsection and makes such records readily available for inspection by an official authorized to enforce this chapter.
Note: Owner/operators must maintain records that demonstrate compliance with the elements of 46 USC §4503(d)(1-8), and make records readily available for inspection upon request by authorized authorities (U.S. Coast Guard authorities).
Accepted Organizations (IAW: 46 CFR 28.73):
CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO USCG "ACCEPTED ORGANIZATIONS" AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT THE ABOVE MENTIONED SURVEYS/COMPLIANCE VERIFICATIONS...
Similarly Qualified Organizations (IAW: 46 CFR 28.76)
1. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
2. Bureau Veritas (BV)
3. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK)
4. Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
5. Lloyd’s Register (LR)
6. Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
7. Indian Register of Shipping (IR Class)