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Fall 2015 Proceedings
www.uscg.mil/proceedings
if modifcations are made to the cargo containment system.
In these cases, the vessel's owner only needs to submit the
updated International Maritime Organization Certifcate of
Fitness and the modifed class-approved engineering plans.
The local Coast Guard offce can handle changes to the ves-
sel name, issuing offcer, issue date, and expiration date.
Invalidation
The SOE is considered invalid if the vessel does not have
a current IMO COF with annual signatures from the fag
state or accepted classifcation society, if the vessel suffers
a marine casualty affecting the cargo containment system,
or if a Coast Guard representative considers the vessel
unsuitable to carry the authorized cargoes and invalidates
the Subchapter O endorsement and/or the certificate of
compliance.
About the author:
LT Rachel Beckmann is the Vessel and Cargo Branch chief at the U.S. Coast
Guard Marine Safety Center. LT Beckmann has served in the Coast Guard
for nine years in a variety of roles, including deck watch offcer aboard CGC
Healy and Walnut, and dive offcer aboard CGC Walnut.
vessel's next U.S. port of call. The Subchapter O endorsement
contains the following information:
• reference to the applicable International Gas Code,
• vessel maximum allowable relief valve settings,
• tank types,
• minimum cargo temperature,
• list of authorized cargoes,
• general cargo carriage requirements,
• any special restrictions on cargo carriage.
The standard Marine Safety Center turnaround time for
an SOE application is 30 days. The SOE application must
be approved prior to scheduling a certifcate of compliance
exam, and local Coast Guard offces must be notifed a mini-
mum of seven days prior to the COC exam. Foreign ves-
sel owners should submit their Subchapter O endorsement
applications with due consideration for these timelines.
Once the vessel successfully completes a certifcate of com-
pliance exam, the operator will receive the Subchapter O
endorsement and certifcate of compliance.
Updates and Notifcations
Subchapter O endorsement updates are only required if
there is a change in the cargoes authorized for carriage or
For more information:
V isit : homep or t .uscg. mil > M arine
Safety Center > Services > Subchapter O
Endorsement.