---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3309"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3309"
heading: "Certificate of inspection"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3309"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 33 — Inspection Generally"
---

# §3309. Certificate of inspection

- (a) When an inspection under [section 3307 of this title](/usc/46/3307.md) has been made and a [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) has been found to be in compliance with the requirements of law and regulations, a [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of inspection, in a form prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46), shall be issued to the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md).
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may issue a temporary [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of inspection in place of a regular [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of inspection issued under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
- (c) At least 30 days before the current [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of inspection issued to a [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section expires, the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) in writing a notice that the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md)—
  - (1) will be required to be inspected; or
  - (2) will not be operated so as to require an inspection.
- (d) A [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of inspection issued under this section shall be signed by the senior [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) member or civilian employee who inspected the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md), in addition to the officer in charge of marine inspection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 515; Pub. L. 98–498, title II, § 211(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2303; Pub. L. 104–324, title VI, § 606, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3931; Pub. L. 111–281, title V, § 522(c), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2957.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 3309 | 46:390c<br>46:391a(8)<br>46:395(d)<br>46:399 |

Section 3309 provides for the issuance of a certificate of inspection that attests to the fact that the vessel has been found to be in compliance with the applicable maritime safety laws and regulations. Under this provision the Coast Guard can issue a temporary certificate of inspection upon compliance with the applicable laws or regulations to facilitate the preparation, processing, and forwarding of the regular certificate of inspection to the vessel. A temporary certificate does not imply less than satisfactory compliance.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–281 added subsec. (d).

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–324 struck out “(but not more than 60 days)” after “30 days” in introductory provisions.

1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–498 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–498 effective 180 days after Oct. 19, 1984, see section 214 of Pub. L. 98–498, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2306 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.