How to Build a 46 CFR Compliance Checklist for Your Vessel in 2 Minutes (Free Tool)

Every commercial US-flag vessel has between 8 and 40 applicable compliance requirements, depending on subchapter, tonnage, route, passenger count, and cargo. No human remembers them all. The Coast Guard has published hundreds of pages of 46 CFR regulations, hundreds more in NVICs, and more still in the MSM — and they update several a month.

Most operators I talk to have a compliance binder that sits in a drawer, last updated two years ago. They find out they missed a requirement the same way every operator has since 1936: during a boarding.

We built the Binnacle AI free compliance calculator to fix that. Enter your vessel's basics, get a starting checklist with real CFR citations, in under two minutes, no login.

Why compliance matters even to the solo operator

I've heard every version of "I'm too small to worry about that."

It doesn't end well. Here's the reality:

• One expired credential can void a COI. If a Sub T vessel's Master steps onboard without an unexpired MMC and a valid medical, and the Coast Guard boards before the trip ends, the vessel is idled.
• Missed drill requirements flag during every boarding. Drills are 46 CFR 199 for inspected passenger vessels — fire, abandon ship, man-overboard, posted muster list. First question USCG asks: "Show me your drill log."
• Insurance claim denials cite missed compliance. P&I underwriters read COI findings during claims review. "Operating outside COI scope" is a common denial reason.
• Jones Act lawsuits discover everything. Once a plaintiff's lawyer starts discovery, every compliance gap becomes exhibit material.

The ROI on compliance is measured in revenue-days-not-lost + claim-denials-avoided + lawsuit-damages-not-paid. It's usually 10-100x the cost of getting it right the first time.

How the calculator works — 8 inputs

We made the inputs as minimal as possible while still producing a useful checklist.

1. Vessel subchapter. The first field on every COI. If you don't know what your COI says, pull it up right now. Options: K (small passenger <100 GT), T (inspected small passenger), H (>100 GT passenger), L (offshore supply), I (cargo/misc), M (towing), C (uninspected fishing), U (OUPV / "six-pack"), D (tank vessel), or "Other."

2. Gross tonnage. A volume measure, not weight. Usually printed on your COI. If you're not sure, the builder's certificate has it, or it's on the documentation certificate.

3. Vessel length (ft). Also on the COI + documentation certificate.

4. Route. Inland rivers · Bays/Sounds · Coastal / Near-coastal · Great Lakes · Offshore / International. Matters because offshore operations trigger more credential requirements (ocean endorsements, lifesaving equipment, etc.).

5. Passenger count. Only applicable to K/T/H/U vessels. Determines manning table requirements + whether you're in Subchapter H or K.

6. Crew size. Drives manning requirements + training matrix complexity.

7. Hazmat cargo. 49 CFR + IMDG compliance trigger.

8. Tank vessel details. Only for Subchapter D — fuel type + sulfur content matters for MARPOL compliance.

What you get — a real checklist, not a lead-magnet trap

I'm allergic to lead magnets that are "seven tips" pretending to be insight. The calculator output is real — the same checks a USCG inspector runs through, just presented readably and with the CFR sections you need.

The output groups requirements into five categories:

Certificates of Inspection (vessel-level). COI, Load Line, SMC/DOC if ISM applies, Subchapter M TSMS if towing, Vessel Response Plan (VRP) / SOPEP if size-triggered.

Crew credentials (per person). Master license level by GT + route (46 CFR 10.207), Mate per manning table (46 CFR Part 15), Engineer if propulsion mechanical (46 CFR 10.501), AB/OS ratios (46 CFR 15.515), TWIC universal (49 CFR 1572), STCW if 500+ GT international, Radar Observer for bridge watchstanders (46 CFR 10.480), MMC + medical cert (46 CFR 10.203).

Drills. Fire/abandon ship frequency per 46 CFR 199.180, MOB drills, posted muster list per SOLAS III.

Drug & alcohol program. Pre-employment, random (25% pool), post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty per 49 CFR Part 40 + 46 CFR Part 16. Annual MIS report (CG-4617) if 50+ covered employees.

Passenger vessel-specific. Capacity posting, PFDs with child/infant sizing per passenger counts, pre-departure briefing requirements, ADA accommodations under Title III.

Each item has the CFR citation inline. Click any item to expand a paragraph explaining what compliance looks like in practice.

Subchapter T case study — 79 ft coastal passenger vessel

Let me walk through what the calculator outputs for a real-world example.

Inputs: Subchapter T, 79 ft length, 79 GT, Coastal / Near-coastal route, 49 passengers, 4 crew, no hazmat.

Outputs (16 items across 5 categories):

Certificate of Inspection

• Subchapter T Certificate of Inspection (46 CFR Part 176 Subpart B)
• Vessel Response Plan or SOPEP conditional — 79 GT is below required threshold, but worth tracking

Crew credentials

• Master <100 GT Near Coastal (46 CFR 10.207)
• Mate if manning table requires (46 CFR 15 — typically one Mate for 49-passenger Sub T at that length)
• TWIC for all 4 crew (49 CFR 1572) — 5-year renewal
• Radar Observer endorsement for Master + Mate (46 CFR 10.480)
• MMC + valid medical cert per person (46 CFR 10.203)

Drills

• Monthly fire drill (46 CFR 199.180)
• Monthly abandon-ship drill
• Posted muster list visible to passengers (SOLAS III)
• Man-overboard drill quarterly

Drug & alcohol

• 49 CFR Part 40 compliant testing program
• Pre-employment + random (25% annual pool)
• Return-to-duty procedures per § 40.285
• Annual MIS CG-4617 conditional (you'd need 50+ covered employees, so optional at 4 crew)

Passenger

• Capacity posting per 46 CFR 177.480
• PFDs sized for adults + children + infants per manifest
• Pre-departure passenger briefing per 46 CFR 185
• ADA Title III accommodations considered

That's 16 specific requirements across 5 categories, with citations, in the time it took to read this paragraph.

Why free?

Two reasons, in order of selfishness:

1. Builds trust. If our free tool is accurate and useful, you'll trust us with your actual compliance workflow. Every competitor in this space gates behind a "book a demo" wall. We think that's arrogant.

1. Captures leads for follow-up. At the end of the checklist, we offer to email you the complete report plus 3 related one-pagers over 2 weeks — drill log template, drug testing SOP, inspection prep checklist. If you're the kind of operator who wants the resources, we become useful before we ask for anything. If you're not, you take the checklist and go — free and clear.

We're building for operators, not for funders. That changes what the calculator needs to be.

What the calculator can't replace

We're transparent about this.

• Licensed maritime attorney for specific edge cases, litigation, or entity structuring questions
• USCG Sector inspection for vessel-specific interpretation (every Sector is a little different)
• Class society consultation for vessels with class requirements (ABS, DNV, LR, BV)
• Your own marine surveyor for initial compliance assessment before you buy a vessel
• A good bookkeeper for the 1099 / W-2 / state-specific overlays

The calculator gives you the starting point. Then you talk to the humans.

Start here

[Try the free compliance calculator →](/compliance-calculator)

Enter your vessel specs. Get a 46 CFR checklist in under two minutes. Email it to yourself. Use it during your next COI renewal prep.

If you want the full platform — Binnacle AI's actual compliance management with crew tracking, drill logs, drug testing, drydock scheduling, insurance vault, and a 2025 cyber rule module — we're $99/month with a Hawaii GET passthrough of $4.67. Most operators pay for it in one avoided COI re-inspection fee.

Capt J is the founder of Binnacle AI. He runs a small maritime tech company on Oʻahu that builds compliance tools for commercial fleets. None of this article is legal advice — consult a qualified maritime attorney for specific regulatory questions. All CFR citations refer to the current Code of Federal Regulations as of publication date; confirm against eCFR before filing or inspection.