46 CFR § 4.04-1 - Reports of potential vessel casualty.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s4.04-1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 4.04-1 - Reports of potential vessel casualty."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "4.04-1"
section_name: "Reports of potential vessel casualty."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE PUBLIC"
part_number: "4"
part_name: "MARINE CASUALTIES AND INVESTIGATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "14 U.S.C. 102; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 2303A, 2306, 6101, 6301, 6305, 70034; 50 U.S.C. 198; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Subpart 4.40 issued under 49 U.S.C. 1131(a)(1)(E)."
regulatory_source: "CGD 74-119, 39 FR 33317, Sept. 17, 1974, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "4"
---


# 4.04-1 Reports of potential vessel casualty.

A vessel owner, charterer, managing operator or agent shall immediately notify either of the following Coast Guard officers if there is reason to believe a vessel is lost or imperiled.

(a) The Coast Guard district rescue coordination center (RCC) cognizant over the area the vessel was last operating in; or

(b) The Coast Guard search and rescue authority nearest to where the vessel was last operating.

Reasons for belief that a vessel is in distress include, but are not limited to, lack of communication with or nonappearance of the vessel.