Inspected vs Uninspected Passenger Vessel

There are two classifications of passenger vessels: inspected and uninspected. As the terms suggest, an uninspected vessel doesn’t require a Coast Guard inspection, while an inspected vessel does. There are still legal requirements for uninspected vessels.

The quick answer is:

Uninspected vessels can carry up to six paying customers. Any more than that requires the vessel to be inspected.

What is an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV)?

Generally, an Uninspected Passenger Vessel carries a maximum of 6 or fewer passengers and is less than 100 GRT. These include your typical charter boat, fishing guide, or small tour boat that may use a state registered boat. These are referred to as UPV, 6 Passenger (pax), or 6-Pack operations. The type of vessel does not matter, so long as at least one or more person is paying for passage.

UPVs traveling on navigable waters of the United States under USCG jurisdiction aren’t required to be inspected by the Coast Guard. However, they must comply with federal standards for safety, navigation, and pollution prevention. At a minimum, the vessel operator must hold a valid Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) license.

The term “uninspected” can be misleading, because there are still Coast Guard requirements that need to be met to operate the vessel; uninspected does not mean unregulated. The vessel must be registered, have proper safety equipment (lifesaving devices, fire extinguisher, etc.), lighting, and distress signals.

You can find a checklist with the minimum standards in the UPV 6 Pack Inspection Form. These standards are for commercial vessels, not recreational ones. Vessels that pass the examination will receive a UPV decal for display on the vessel.

The captain of the UPV needs to hold one of the following USCG licenses for the route they are working on:

• Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV/Six-Pack),
• Master,
• Mate.
  

Note: The 12-month grace period only applies to the amount of time you have to renew your license without starting over. You can’t operate a vessel with an expired license, so make sure to renew your license in plenty of time before it expires.

What is a Coast Guard inspected vessel?

An Inspected Vessel is one inspected by the Coast Guard and that has been issued a Certificate of Inspection. Vessels require a USCG inspection when they’re carrying more than six paying passengers.

Once the vessel has been inspected and approved by the inspector, a CG-841 - Certificate of Inspection is issued. The certificate includes details about the vessel such as: its equipment, the route the vessel may travel, the minimum manning requirements, the number of passengers that may be on board, the names of the owners and operators, and the period of validity.

The specific inspection requirements depend on the size and type of vessel.

Inspection frequency

Vessels subject to inspection require an initial inspection for certification before they’re put into service. After being put into service

• Each passenger vessel, nautical school vessel, and small passenger vessel allowed to carry more than 12 passengers on a foreign voyage needs to be inspected at least once a year.
• Every other vessel will be inspected at least once every 5 years.
  

To avoid a lapse in inspection, the CG-3752: Application for Inspection of U.S. Vessel form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the vessel’s Certificate of Inspection.

Note: The Coast Guard, on its own initiative, may examine or inspect or reinspect the vessel at any time.

Inspections of vessel safety systems includes the following:

• Hull inspection to ensure seaworthiness of the vessel.
• Main/auxiliary power inspection to ensure safe and operable machinery for vessel propulsion and emergency power.
• Boiler inspection to ensure that it is structurally sound with operable safety devices.
• Electrical systems inspection to ensure satisfactory installation of wiring and equipment.
• Lifesaving systems inspection to ensure satisfactory and adequate means to abandon ship.
• Firefighting systems inspection to ensure fixed and portable devices are suitable for the intended space and type of fire.
• Navigation inspection to ensure adequacy and operation of navigation equipment.
• Pollution prevention inspection to ensure compliance with international regulations and domestic laws.
  

Inspections of vessel security systems includes the following:

• Verification of security related documents and certificates such as the ship security plan, International Ship Security Certificate, and Declaration of Security.
• Ensure appropriate training drills and exercises are being conducted.
• Ensure required on board security procedures are in place.
  

The Coast Guard Marine Inspectors published a report of the top 10 most common deficiencies they found during inspections of Small Passenger Vessels. We recommend reviewing this before scheduling your inspection.

We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Pro inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application, you can choose to have the MM-SEAS staff create a perfect application, handle the USCG application fees and work with the USCG on your behalf to resolve any issues for a flat fee of $299 or you can choose to submit on your own.

Pro MM-SEAS members get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. We've found that answering questions live with screen sharing in a video call makes both of our lives easier. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of MM-SEAS under License Guidance.