33 CFR § 96.390 - When will the Coast Guard deny entry into a U.S. port?
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s96.390"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 96.390 - When will the Coast Guard deny entry into a U.S. port?"
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "96.390"
section_name: "When will the Coast Guard deny entry into a U.S. port?"
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "VESSEL OPERATING REGULATIONS"
part_number: "96"
part_name: "RULES FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF VESSELS AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 3201 et. seq.; 46 U.S.C. 3103; 46 U.S.C. 3316; 33 U.S.C. 1231."
regulatory_source: "CGD 95-073, 62 FR 67506, Dec. 24, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "96"
---
# 96.390 When will the Coast Guard deny entry into a U.S. port?
(a) Except for a foreign vessel entering U.S. waters under force majeure, no vessel shall enter any port or terminal of the U.S. without a safety management system that has been properly certificated to this subpart or to the requirements of Chapter IX of SOLAS if—
(1) It is engaged on a foreign voyage; and
(2) It is carrying more than 12 passengers, or a tanker, bulk freight vessel, freight vessel, or self-propelled mobile offshore drilling unit of 500 gross tons or more.
(b) The cognizant COTP will deny entry of a vessel into a port or terminal under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 3204(c), to any vessel that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.