---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 104.400"
title: "33"
number: "104.400"
heading: "General."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/104.400"
---

# §104.400. General.

- (a) The Company Security Officer (CSO) must ensure a Vessel Security Plan (VSP) is developed and implemented for each vessel. The VSP:
  - (1) Must identify the CSO and VSO by name or position and provide 24-hour contact information;
  - (2) Must be written in English, although a translation of the VSP in the working language of vessel personnel may also be developed;
  - (3) Must address each vulnerability identified in the Vessel Security Assessment (VSA);
  - (4) Must describe security measures for each MARSEC Level;
  - (5) Must state the Master's authority as described in [§ 104.205](/cfr/33/104.205.md); and
  - (6) May cover more than one vessel to the extent that they share similarities in physical characteristics and operations, if authorized and approved by the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center.
- (b) The VSP must be submitted to the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center, U.S. Coast Guard. Send all mail to: Commanding Officer (MSC), Attn: Marine Safety Center, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7430, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7430, in a written or electronic format. Information for submitting the VSP electronically can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/MSC. Owners or operators of foreign flag vessels that are subject to SOLAS [Chapter XI-1](/cfr/33/chXI..1.md) or [Chapter XI-2](/cfr/33/chXI..2.md) must comply with this part by carrying on board a valid International Ship Security Certificate that certifies that the verifications required by [Section 19.1](/cfr/33/19.1.md) of part A of the ISPS Code (Incorporated by reference, see [§ 101.115](/cfr/33/101.115.md) of this subchapter) have been completed. As stated in Section 9.4 of the ISPS Code, part A requires that, in order for the ISSC to be issued, the provisions of part B of the ISPS Code need to be taken into account.
- (c) The VSP is sensitive security information and must be protected in accordance with [49 CFR part 1520](/cfr/49/part1520.md).
- (d) If the VSP is kept in an electronic format, procedures must be in place to prevent its unauthorized deletion, destruction, or amendment.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14749, 68 FR 39302, July 1, 2003, as amended at 68 FR 60515, Oct. 22, 2003; USCG-2004-18057, 69 FR 34925, June 23, 2004; USCG-2007-26953, 72 FR 5931, Feb. 8, 2007; USCG-2010-0351, 75 FR 36282, June 25, 2010; USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38432, July 7, 2014; USCG-2016-0498, 82 FR 35080, July 28, 2017; USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22947, Apr. 3, 2024]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70051, 70116, Chapter 701; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-11, 6.14, 6.16, and 6.19; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

### Source

Source: USCG-2003-14749, 68 FR 39302, July 1, 2003, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14749, 68 FR 39302, July 1, 2003, as amended at 68 FR 60515, Oct. 22, 2003; USCG-2004-18057, 69 FR 34925, June 23, 2004; USCG-2007-26953, 72 FR 5931, Feb. 8, 2007; USCG-2010-0351, 75 FR 36282, June 25, 2010; USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38432, July 7, 2014; USCG-2016-0498, 82 FR 35080, July 28, 2017; USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22947, Apr. 3, 2024]