USCG: Resumption of towing vessel inspection fees and fee structure updates

The United States Coast Guard issued a new Marine Safety Information Bulletin MSIB 02/24 announcing the resumption of billing for inspection user fees, including new fee amounts, for Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) Option vessels.

This bulletin was published on 21 March 2024.

On December 28, 2023, the Federal Register published the User Fees for Inspected Towing Vessels Final Rule (User Fees FR). Accordingly, the USCG Finance Center (FINCEN) will resume billing for inspection user fees, at the new amount, for Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) Option vessels as of March 27, 2024. Additionally, the new inspection user fee amounts for all towing vessels affected by the User Fees FR will be updated and effective as well.

Div. G, Sec. 231 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (FY22 Omnibus) of March 15, 2022, prohibited the Coast Guard from charging inspection user fees to TSMS option towing vessels until the requirements of Sec. 815 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, Public Law 115–282 (CGAA 2018) were met, including the update of TSMS option inspection user fee. With the publication of the User Fees FR, the Coast Guard has met all requirements of Sec. 815 of the CGAA 2018.

Therefore, effective March 27, 2024, the USCG FINCEN will resume charging vessel inspection user fees for towing vessels using the TSMS option and begin billing under the new fee amounts for all other towing vessels as indicated below.

The annual fee schedule for 46 CFR subchapter I towing vessels will be:

• Inspection Type
  Coast Guard option: $2,747
  ACP option: $1,850
  SIP option: $2,260

The annual fee schedule for 46 CFR subchapter M towing vessels will be:

• Inspection Type
  Coast Guard option: $2,184
  TSMS option: $973

The bulletin officially cancels MSIB 04-22, which previously suspended USCG Inspection Fees for TSMS Option – Subchapter M Towing Vessels.

For any inquiries related to vessel inspection fee payment, billing, appeals, or refunds, stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to the USCG Finance Center (FINCEN) via email or visit the provided website for further information.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

46 CFR Subchapter M – Towing Vessels: Resumption of Billing TSMS Option User Fees and New User Fee Amounts for all Inspected Towing Vessels