Towing & Ship-Assist · Subchapter M — Third-Party Organization
A key requirement of a Third-Party Organization (TPO) that audits a TSMS or surveys a vessel is that it must be:
- AStaffed only by the vessel's own crew
- BOwned by the towing company it audits
- CIndependent of and not auditing its own work for the company it serves, and accepted by the Coast Guard✓ Correct
- DExempt from any Coast Guard oversight
Explanation
To preserve objectivity, a TPO must be independent — it cannot audit work it performed itself — and must be accepted by the Coast Guard against criteria for competence and impartiality. This independence is what gives the TSMS option its credibility.
Authority: 46 CFR Part 139; Subchapter M
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