Activities Europe provides vessel inspection services for foreign flagged vessels ensuring compliance with domestic and international standards for entry into U.S. waters and ports including safety regulations, pollution prevention, and vessel material condition.

Certificate of Compliance (C.O.C.) inspections are performed on tankships including chemical tankers and liquefied gas carriers.

Overseas Initial Certificate of Compliance (I.C.O.C.) inspections are performed on passenger vessels such as liesure and cruise ships.

 

B COC B ICOC

 

Certificate of Compliance (COC) examinations

Non-US Flagged tank ships, chemical tankers, and liquefied gas carriers

Location

U.S. Coast Guard Activities Europe provides a COC examination as a service to foreign tank vessels with a current contract to lighter cargo inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). We conduct COCs (renewal/annual) based on availability of our resources. This service is provided throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Be advised that there are travel restrictions as well as country and port access requirements that may preclude an exam from being conducted.

Scheduling

The exam should be scheduled at least two to three weeks in advance of the requested exam date. A voyage contract stating that the vessel will be lightering inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is required to be submitted. The exam can’t be conducted if the vessel is unable to provide the voyage contract.

Fees

User fees are required to be paid prior to the exam. These fees include the annual tankship inspection fee of $1100.00 and the overseas user fee payment of $4585.00. These payments can be made at the Coast Guard Finance Center. In addition to the above fees, the applicant is responsible for reimbursing the U.S. government the cost of travel to and from the location of the inspection, lodging, and daily expenses. It is recommended that your U.S. vessel agent complete the payment process, due to our online payment system not accepting payments from non U.S. entity.

COC Examination

The vessel will need to be available for inspection between 0900 and 1600. The pump room is required to be gas free and safe for entry by a marine chemist or competent person. Additionally, no cargo or bunker operation will take place until the attending inspector feels that the COC inspection has progressed to a point where cargo and/or bunker operations will not interfere with ongoing inspection.

By requesting this inspection, you acknowledge that the local Port State Control Authority and Classification Society will be informed if any Major Non-Conformities or Detainable deficiencies are identified during the exam. Additionally, no COC or Port State Control forms will be issued if Major Non-Conformities or Detainable deficiencies are identified.

Required Documentation

ALL Tank Vessels must include the following:

  • Voyage contract to lighter in U.S.
  • Proof of user fee payment
  • Vessel Particulars (Specification)
  • Continuous Synopsis Record    
  • International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP) including Form B Supplement
  • Safety Management Certificate (SMC) and Document of Compliance (DOC)
  • Vapor Collection System (VCS) certificate.
  • Copy of current or expired COC (if not initial visit to the U.S.)
  • Approved Vessel Response Plan

Chemical Tank Vessels must include the items below:

  • Certificate of Fitness (COF) and/or International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) in Bulk NLS Certificate

Gas Carriers must include the items below:

  • International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS), if applicable
  • Copy of USCG Subchapter O endorsement

Inspection Request

To submit an inspection request download the Foreign Vessel Inspection Request form, fill out all necessary fields, and e-mail the completed form to ACTEURwatch@uscg.mil.

Overseas Initial Certificate of Compliance (ICOC) examinations

Non-US Flagged Passenger Vessels

  • Review the Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Vol. II, Section D, Chapter 7 "Procedures Applicable to Foreign Passenger Vessels" for ICOC requirements, timelines, and processes.
  • Once the requirements have been met, proceed with scheduling the exam as described below.

Plan Review

  • Submit relevant vessel plans at least 6 months in advance to allow the Marine Safety Center time to complete plan review before the Structural Fire Protection (SFP) and/or the ICOC Exam.
  • The average time for MSC to complete plan review is 30 days, however if issues are found these items may need to be rectified prior to conducting the ICOC exam.
  • All plans must represent the vessel as currently configured and must bear the approval stamp of the flag administration or classification society explicitly on behalf of the Administration.

Submittal Process

  • Submittals to the Marine Safety Center (MSC) may be made via e-mail to MSC@uscg.mil.
    • There is a 10 Megabyte (MB) per e-mail file size limit.
    • Contact MSC for alternate submission options if attachments exceed the size limit

References 

Inspection Request

  • Plan review MUST be complete prior to requesting an ICOC exam.
  • Complete the Application for Inspection for Foreign Flag Vessel in its entirety and e-mail to ACTEUR-ICOC@uscg.mil.
    • The address on the application for inspection will be the company responsible for billing.
    • Include the FIRST U.S. port at which the vessel will embark/disembark passengers.
    • Non-US Flagged cruise ships are not required to pay user fees.
  • Applications for Inspection should be submitted a minimum 45 days in advance of the requested exam date.
  • Once the application is received, the ICOC coordinator will contact you.

To submit an inspection request download the Foreign Vessel Inspection Request form, fill out all necessary fields, and e-mail the completed form to ACTEUR-ICOC@uscg.mil.