[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR176.655]

[Page 217]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 176_INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart F_Hull and Tailshaft Examinations
 
Sec. 176.655  Hull examination reports.

    (a) If you use only divers for the underwater survey portion of the 
Alternative Hull Examination (AHE), you must provide the Officer in 
Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), with a written hull examination 
report. This report must include thickness gauging results, bearing 
clearances, a copy of the audio and video recordings, and any other 
information that will help the OCMI evaluate your vessel for a credit 
hull exam. The third party examiner must sign the report and confirm the 
validity of its contents.
    (b) If you use an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) as the 
predominate means to examine the vessel's underwater hull plating, you 
must provide the OCMI with a report in a format that is acceptable to 
the OCMI, per Sec. 176.650(b) of this part.
    (c) The OCMI will evaluate the hull examination report and grant a 
credit hull exam if satisfied with the condition of the vessel. If 
approved and you exclusively use divers to examine the hull plating, you 
will receive a credit hull exam of up to 36 months. (Underwater 
examinations are required twice every 5 years.) If approved and you use 
an underwater ROV as the predominate means to examine the hull plating, 
you will receive a credit hull exam of up to 60 months (5 years).
    (d) At least 60 days prior to each scheduled underwater exam, the 
owner may request a waiver from the OCMI if:
    (1) A satisfactory exam has been completed within the last three 
years;
    (2) The conditions during the last exam allowed at least 80 percent 
of the bottom surface to be viewed and recorded; and
    (3) The results of the last exam indicated that an extended interval 
is safe and reasonable.

[USCG-2000-6858, 67 FR 21086, Apr. 29, 2002, as amended at 69 FR 47384, 
Aug. 5, 2004]