46 CFR Subchapter T

Subchapter T — Small Passenger Vessels
compliance, handled.

Subchapter T covers inspected small passenger vessels of 100 gross tons or less carrying up to 150 passengers — tour boats, dinner cruises, dive boats, charters. The COI governs everything; the day-to-day burden is keeping it, the equipment, and the credentials current on a schedule, in front of paying passengers.

What Subchapter T asks of you

Certificate of Inspection

States the route, the maximum passengers, the required crew, and the conditions of operation — kept current.

Lifesaving equipment

Sized to the passenger count, including child life jackets, with servicing schedules for rafts and floats.

Firefighting and stability

Equipment appropriate to the vessel and stability compliance for a moving crowd of passengers.

Crew credentials

The licensed master and credentialed crew the COI requires — each with an expiry.

Drills and passenger orientation

Crew drills and passenger safety instructions, logged for the examiner.

Drug and alcohol program

A 46 CFR 16 / 49 CFR Part 40 program for the covered crew.

How Binnacle AI handles it

  • COI and survey scheduling per vessel with lead-time alerts.
  • Lifesaving-equipment servicing dates tracked so nothing expires before an exam.
  • Crew credential expiry tracking with an AI document scanner that reads MMCs and medicals from a photo.
  • Drill logs with the records attached.
  • A USCG inspection simulator to walk the crew through the exam before it happens.
  • An audit-ready evidence trail, ready for the examiner.
The Binnacle signal:credentials aren't just tracked — they're independently verified against the National Maritime Center, roll up into a live compliance grade, and feed a one-click Insurance Packageyou can share with your underwriter.

Built for the small US operator

46 CFR logic, an AI document scanner, expiry alerts, and an inspection simulator — flat fleet pricing, no per-vessel fees.

Built for evaluation-grade trust