[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR8.130]

[Page 78-80]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 8_VESSEL INSPECTION ALTERNATIVES--Table of Contents
 
                            Subpart A_General
 
Sec. 8.130  Agreement conditions.

    (a) Delegated functions performed by, and statutory certificates 
issued by, an authorized classification society will be accepted as 
functions performed by, or certificates issued by, the Coast Guard, 
provided that the classification society maintains compliance with all 
provisions of its agreement with the Commandant. Any agreement between 
the Commandant and a recognized classification society authorizing the 
performance of delegated functions will be written and will require the 
classification society to comply with each of the following:
    (1) Issue any certificates related to a delegated function in the 
English language.

[[Page 79]]

    (2) Maintain a corporate office in the United States that has 
adequate resources and staff to support all delegated functions and to 
maintain required associated records.
    (3) Maintain all records in the United States related to delegated 
functions conducted on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    (4) Make available to appropriate Coast Guard representatives vessel 
status information and records, including outstanding vessel 
deficiencies or classification society recommendations, in the English 
language, on all vessels for which the classification society has 
performed any delegated function on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    (5) Report to the Commandant (G-MOC) the names and official numbers 
of any vessels removed from class for which the classification society 
has performed any delegated function on behalf of the Coast Guard and 
include a description of the reason for the removal.
    (6) Report to the Commandant (G-MOC) all port state detentions on 
all vessels for which the classification society has performed any 
delegated function on behalf of the Coast Guard when aware of such 
detention.
    (7) Annually provide the Commandant (G-MOC) with its register of 
classed vessels.
    (8) Ensure vessels meet all requirements for class of the accepting 
classification society prior to accepting vessels transferred from 
another classification society.
    (9) Suspend class for vessels that are overdue for special renewal 
or annual survey.
    (10) Attend any vessel for which the classification society has 
performed any delegated function on behalf of the Coast Guard at the 
request of the appropriate Coast Guard officials, without regard to the 
vessel's location-- unless prohibited to do so under the laws of the 
United States, the laws of the jurisdiction in which the vessel is 
located, the classification society's home country domestic law, or 
where the classification society considers an unacceptable hazard to 
life and/or property exists.
    (11) Honor appeal decisions made by the Commandant (G-MSE) or 
Commandant (G-MOC) on issues related to delegated functions.
    (12) Apply U.S. flag administration interpretations, when they 
exist, to international conventions for which the classification society 
has been delegated authority to certificate or perform other functions 
on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    (13) Obtain approval from the Commandant (G-MOC) prior to granting 
exemptions from the requirements of international conventions, class 
rules, and the U.S. supplement to class rules.
    (14) Make available to the Coast Guard all records, in the English 
language, related to equivalency determinations or approvals made in the 
course of delegated functions conducted on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    (15) Report to the Coast Guard all information specified in the 
agreement at the specified frequency and to the specified Coast Guard 
office or official.
    (16) Grant the Coast Guard access to all plans and documents, 
including reports on surveys, on the basis of which certificates are 
issued or endorsed by the classification society.
    (17) Identify a liaison representative to the Coast Guard.
    (18) Provide regulations, rules, instructions and report forms in 
the English language.
    (19) Allow the Commandant (G-M) to participate in the development of 
class rules.
    (20) Inform the Commandant (G-M) of all proposed changes to class 
rules.
    (21) Provide the Commandant (G-M) the opportunity to comment on any 
proposed changes to class rules and to respond to the classification 
society's disposition of the comments made by the Coast Guard.
    (22) Furnish information and required access to the Coast Guard to 
conduct oversight of the classification society's activities related to 
delegated functions conducted on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    (23) Allow the Coast Guard to accompany them on internal and 
external quality audits and provide written results of such audits to 
appropriate Coast Guard representatives.

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    (24) Provide the Coast Guard access necessary to audit the 
authorized classification society to ensure that it continues to comply 
with the minimum standards for a recognized classification society.
    (25) Use only exclusive surveyors of that classification society to 
accomplish all work done on behalf of, or under any delegation from, the 
Coast Guard. For tonnage-related measurement service only, however, 
classification societies may use part-time employees or independent 
contractors in place of exclusive surveyors.
    (26) Allow its surveyors to participate in training with the Coast 
Guard regarding delegated functions.
    (b) Amendments to an agreement between the Coast Guard and an 
authorized classification society will become effective only after 
consultation and written agreement between parties.
    (c) Agreements may be terminated by one party only upon written 
notice to the other party. Termination will occur sixty days after 
written notice is given.