
      Each vessel subject to inspection under this part shall undergo
    an initial inspection for certification before being put into
    service. After being put into service - 
        (1) each passenger vessel, nautical school vessel, and small
      passenger vessel allowed to carry more than 12 passengers on a
      foreign voyage shall be inspected at least once a year; and
        (2) any other vessel shall be inspected at least once every 5
      years.

                       HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES                   
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
              Revised section               Source section (U.S. Code)  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    3307(1)                               46:391(c)                     
                                          46:1295f(c)                   
    3307(2)                               46:390a(a)                    
                                          46:404-1(6)(i)                
    3307(3)                               46:391(b)                     
                                          46:392(b)                     
                                          46:404-1(6)(ii)               
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Section 3307 requires each vessel subject to inspection to
    undergo an initial inspection prior to being placed in service.
    This is normally started during the construction or reconstruction
    phase and is a continuing process until final certification for
    operation in a particular trade. Subsequent periodic inspections
    are also required for various types of vessels. It is to be noted
    that a freight vessel of less than 100 gross tons shall be
    inspected at 3 year intervals while the larger freight vessel has a
    2 year inspection period. This is being done to retain the existing
    procedure of issuing 3 year certificates of inspection to smaller
    vessels, however, this does not prevent periodic inspections or
    examinations at intervening periods.
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1996 - Par. (1). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 605(a)(1), substituted ",
    nautical school vessel, and small passenger vessel allowed to carry
    more than 12 passengers on a foreign voyage" for "and nautical
    school vessel" and inserted "and" at end.
      Pars. (2), (3). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 605(a)(2), (3),
    redesignated par. (3) as (2), substituted "5 years" for "2 years",
    and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "each small
    passenger vessel, freight vessel or offshore supply vessel of less
    than 100 gross tons, and sailing school vessel shall be inspected
    at least once every 3 years; and".

Last modified: April 20, 2006