Top 10 Small Passenger Vessel Deficiencies (Subchapter K)—Part I

Excerpted from “Top Ten Deficiencies Found on Vessels.” Full text available on http://homeport.uscg.mil/. Navigate to missions/investigations/safety reports.


The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Analysis recently examined vessel deficiencies in various vessel classes to identify the 10 most common deficiencies in each class.

We share these so that owners can take corrective action, rectify problems prior to scheduling the next Coast Guard examination, and ensure continual compliance with safety and environmental requirements.


Cooling Water Piping 46 CFR 119.420, .422 & .425
Piping is often corroded to the point of being considered wasted, and flexible hoses are often so badly dry-rotted that they crack. Additionally, piping and hoses are sometimes found with pin-hole leaks. On vessels with keel coolers, double hose clamps are required on both ends of all flexible hoses.

Deteriorated Hull Material 46 CFR 115.600; NVIC 7-68; NVIC 8-87; NVIC 7-95
Inspectors will typically find breaches in the hull plating and wastage of structural members while inspecting older vessels.

Exposed Hazards 46 CFR 116.960 & .970
Missing guards for moving machinery are the most common finding in this category. Additionally, hot surface guards are sometimes missing from cooking appliances in the galley.

Exhaust Piping 46 CFR 119.430(b) & 116.970
Inspectors routinely note leaking exhaust, which is true of both propulsion and generator diesels. Missing insulation and rusted-out pipe hangers are also common deficiencies.

F.C.C. Radio Compliance 46 CFR 121.502 and 47 CFR 80.13, .59, .903, & .1067
Note: since radio equipment requirements are structured according to the permissible operating distances from land, different vessels covered under the same Coast Guard inspection subchapter could be subject to different carriage requirements and certificates.

Many vessels are issued deficiencies for not having an FCC-issued ship station license, vessel bridge-to-bridge radiotelephony certificate, or a Communications Act safety radiotelephony certificate. SOLAS operation requires an additional certificate, FCC Form 806.


For more information:
For more information about small passenger vessel inspections, contact your local Coast Guard Sector/Inspections Division. For a listing of sector offices, click on “Sector Map” on http://homeport.uscg.mil/.

The subchapter K list continues in part 2.