(a) The load line certificates for which the Government of the United States of America assumes full responsibility may be issued by the Commandant, the American Bureau of Shipping, or a recognized classification society when appointed as an authorized assigning and issuing authority for specifically designated vessels.

(b) The load line certificate shall certify to the correctness of the load line marks assigned to the vessel and that the vessel is in compliance with applicable requirements. A certificate issued under this subchapter also shall describe the applicable load line marks, conditions, restrictions, and/or exemptions, if any, the vessel shall observe, according to the season of the year and the zone or area in which the vessel may operate. The load line exemption certificate issued under §42.03-30 shall certify the special conditions the vessel shall observe.

(c) A load line assignment and certificate issued to any vessel under the authority of the regulations in this subchapter (or under the authority of any Government adhering to the 1966 Convention, under the provisions of Article 19(5) of the 1966 Convention) shall cease to be valid upon the transfer of such vessel to the flag of another Government.

(d) Each loadline certificate is issued for the following length of time:

(1) An international and coastwise certificate is issued for 5 years and may be extended by the Commandant up to 150 days from the date of the—

(i) Survey that is endorsed on the certificate by the surveyor authorized by the Coast Guard; or

(ii) Last day of the 5-year period.

(2) A Great Lakes certificate is issued for 5 years and may be extended by the Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, up to 365 days from date of the—

(i) Survey that is endorsed on the certificate by the surveyor authorized by the Coast Guard; or

(ii) Last day of the 5-year period.

(e) The form of certificate certifying to the correctness of the load line marks, assigned under the regulations in this part, may be in the form of temporary or provisional certificate, signed by the authorized surveyor pending early issuance of appropriate certificate as shown in subpart 42.50 of this part as follows:

(1) International Load Line Certificate, 1966, issued to U.S. vessels engaged in foreign voyages, or engaged in coastwise or intercoastal voyages (provided such vessels qualify to engage in foreign voyages without restriction), as follows:

(i) Form A1, For general use.

(ii) Form A2, For sailing vessels.

(iii) Form A3, For general use, combined with timber deck cargo.

(2) Certificate issued to foreign vessels belonging to countries that have not ratified or acceded to the 1966 Convention as follows:

(i) Form B, For general use.

(3) Coastwise load line certificate (other than for special service as provided for by part 44 of this subchapter) issued to U.S. vessels engaged solely in coastwise and/or intercoastal voyages (which may be subject to restrictions as to manning, routes, seasons, waters of operations, etc., as shown on the face of the certificate), as follows:

(i) Form C1, For general use.

(ii) Form C2, For sailing ships.

(iii) Form C3, For general use, combined with timber deck cargo.

(f) The form of certificate certifying to the correctness of exemptions granted under the regulations in this part shall be as shown in subpart 42.50 of this part as follows:

(1) International load line exemption certificate issued under special conditions to U.S.-flag vessels engaged in foreign voyages, as follows:

(i) Form E1, For general international use.

(ii) Where this certificate is intended to expire after a single voyage, this information shall be noted on the face of the certificate.

(2) International load line certificate Form A1, A2, or A3 issued under special conditions to U.S.-flag vessels on international voyages between the United States and near neighboring ports of its possessions or of foreign countries. Exemptions, if any, shall be specified on the certificate.

(g) The issuing authority shall provide the printed forms it may use under the regulations in this subchapter. These forms shall be approved by the Commandant before final printing. The international load line certificate and exemption certificate forms shall exactly reproduce the arrangement of the printed part of the model Forms A1, A2, A3, and E1 indicated in subpart 42.50 of this part for all official copies and any certified copies issued.

(h) Where a vessel qualifies for and is issued a Form E1 International Load Line Exemption Certificate for foreign voyages but is also or solely engaged in coastwise or intercoastal voyages by sea, this certificate shall be considered equivalent to a valid coastwise load line certificate. In such case the vessel shall be deemed in full compliance with 46 U.S.C. 5101-5116 and the regulations in this part promulgated thereunder.

[CGFR 68-60, 33 FR 10054, July 12, 1968, as amended by CGFR 68-126, 34 FR 9012, June 5, 1969; CGD 73-49R, 38 FR 12290, May 10, 1973; CGD 74-153, 39 FR 25324, July 10, 1974; CGD 80-120, 47 FR 5722, Feb. 8, 1982; CGD 96-006, 61 FR 35964, July 9, 1996; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]