# 15 CFR § 971.205: Vessel safety and documentation

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.205

## Section

- **Citation:** 15 CFR § 971.205
- **Heading:** Vessel safety and documentation
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 15—Commerce and Foreign Trade > Subtitle B—Regulations Relating to Commerce and Foreign Trade > CHAPTER IX—NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE > SUBCHAPTER D—GENERAL REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE > PART 971—DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL RECOVERY PERMITS > Subpart B—Applications > Contents

## Text

In order to provide a basis for the necessary determinations with respect to the safety of life and property at sea, pursuant to § 971.407, § 971.422 and Subpart G of this part, the application must contain the following information for vessels used in commercial recovery, except for those vessels under 300 gross tons which are engaged in oceanographic research:
(a) U.S. flag vessel. All mining ships and at least one of the transport ships used by each permittee must be documented under the laws of the United States. To the extent that the applicant knows which United States flag vessels it will use, it must include with its application copies of the vessels' current valid Coast Guard Certificates of Inspection.
(b) Foreign flag vessels. To the extent that the applicant knows which foreign flag vessel(s) it will be using for other purposes, the application must include evidence of the following:
(1) That any foreign flag vessel whose flag state is party to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 74) possesses current valid SOLAS 74 certificates;
(2) That any foreign flag vessel whose flag state is not party to SOLAS 74 but is party to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960 (SOLAS 60) possesses current valid SOLAS 60 certificates; and
(3) That any foreign flag vessel whose flag state is not a party to either SOLAS 74 or SOLAS 60 meets all applicable structural and safety requirements contained in the published rules of a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
(c) Supplemental certificates. If the applicant does not know at the time of submitting an application which vessels it will be using, it must submit the applicable certification for each vessel before the cruise on which it will be used.

## Nearby sections

- [15 CFR § 971.201 § 971.201 Statement of financial resources.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.201.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.202 § 971.202 Statement of technological experience and capabilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.202.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.203 § 971.203 Commercial recovery plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.203.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.204 § 971.204 Environmental and use conflict analysis.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.204.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.205 § 971.205 Vessel safety and documentation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.205.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.206 § 971.206 Statement of ownership.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.206.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.207 § 971.207 Antitrust information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.207.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.208 § 971.208 Fee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.208.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.209 § 971.209 Processing outside the United States.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.209.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.210 § 971.210 Determination whether application is complete for further processing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.210.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.211 § 971.211 Consultation and cooperation with Federal agencies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.211.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.212 § 971.212 Public notice, hearing and comment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.212.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.213 § 971.213 Amendment to an application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.213.md)
- [15 CFR § 971.214 § 971.214 Consolidated license and permit procedures.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.214.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-15-971.205. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.