Technical Circular No: 007/2026
1. The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) has announced the start of its pilot program to implement a "Performance-Driven Certificate of Compliance (COC) Examination Schedule" for foreign tank vessels, effective 1 March 2026.
2. The pilot program is essentially a new, risk-based inspection approach for foreign tank vessels.
3. The purpose of this pilot program is to evaluate a new data-driven model in a controlled operational environment. This initiative will help identify potential challenges, gather direct feedback, and refine the process to support successful Coast Guard-wide implementation. The ultimate goal is to modernize the examination process by rewarding high-performing vessels, optimizing Coast Guard resources, and maintaining stringent safety standards.
4. Preliminary Program Details (subject to change based on the pilot program):
a. Authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, the "Performance-Driven Certificate of Compliance (COC) Examination Schedule" introduces a modernized approach to the annual examination cycle for foreign tank vessels.
b. This new program:
i. Allows the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) to credit a high-performing vessel's annual examination requirement based on a comprehensive review of its safety and performance profile, in lieu of a physical, on-board inspection.
ii. Offers a different path for fulfilling the annual, mid-period requirement, while the comprehensive on-board examination required every two years for Certificate of Compliance (COC) renewal remains unchanged.
c. This program applies exclusively to foreign tank vessels and does not change COC examination requirements for passenger vessels or Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).
5. Inquiries regarding this pilot program may be forwarded to CVC-2 at portstatecontrol@uscg.mil
Enclosure: Nil
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.