---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 104.410"
title: "33"
number: "104.410"
heading: "Submission and approval."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/104.410"
---

# §104.410. Submission and approval.

- (a) In accordance with [§ 104.115](/cfr/33/104.115.md), each vessel owner or operator must either—
  - (1) Submit one copy of their Vessel Security Plan (VSP), in English, for review and approval to the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center (MSC) and a letter certifying that the VSP meets applicable requirements of this part; or
  - (2) If intending to operate under an Approved Alternative Security Program, a letter signed by the vessel owner or operator stating which approved Alternative Security Program the owner or operator intends to use.
- (b) Owners or operators of vessels not in service on or before December 31, 2003, must comply with the requirements in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section 60 days prior to beginning operations.
- (c) The Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center (MSC), will examine each submission for compliance with this part, and either—
  - (1) Approve it and specify any conditions of approval, returning to the submitter a letter stating its acceptance and any conditions;
  - (2) Return it for revision, returning a copy to the submitter with brief descriptions of the required revisions; or
  - (3) Disapprove it, returning a copy to the submitter with a brief statement of the reasons for disapproval.
- (d) A VSP may be submitted and approved to cover more than one vessel where the vessel design and operations are similar.
- (e) Each company or vessel, owner or operator, that submits one VSP to cover two or more vessels of similar design and operation must address vessel-specific information that includes the physical and operational characteristics of each vessel.
- (f) **A plan that is approved by the MSC is valid for 5 years from the date of its approval.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14749, 68 FR 39302, July 1, 2003, as amended at 68 FR 60515, Oct. 22, 2003; USCG-2004-19963, 70 FR 74669, Dec. 16, 2005; USCG-2013-0397, 78 FR 39173, July 1, 2013; USCG-2007-28915, 81 FR 57711, Aug. 23, 2016]

### 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-2004-19963, 70 FR 74669, Dec. 16, 2005; USCG-2013-0397, 78 FR 39173, July 1, 2013; USCG-2007-28915, 81 FR 57711, Aug. 23, 2016]