Sector Delaware Bay Prevention
Philadelphia, PA

Sector Delaware Bay Prevention

The Prevention Department is responsible for preventing maritime casualties, accidents and security incidents.

The Prevention Department has three divisions: Marine Inspections, Waterways Management, and Marine Investigations. A Marine Safety Detachment in Lewes, Delaware carries out the functions of the Marine Inspections and Marine Investigations divisions.

Marine Inspections Division

The Inspections Division is responsible for inspecting U.S. and foreign vessels, to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations and Coast Guard policy to prevent loss of life and damage to property and the environment. Additionally, this division oversees all regulated waterfront facilities.

The Inspection Division has four branches:

Facilities and Containers Branch: Container inspections (involved in shipments of hazardous and non-hazardous packaged cargo) and waterfront facility inspections (safety and security).

Port State Control (PSC): Examination of foreign tank and freight vessels. PSC is also responsible for coordinating vessel arrival notices and prioritizes all foreign vessel exams.

Small Vessel Branch: Inspection of all U.S. flagged passenger vessels under 100 gross tons.

Large Vessel Branch: Inspection of U.S. flagged tank and freight vessels (including barges). Large Vessel Branch manages both the Alternate Compliance Program and Uninspected Towing Vessel examination program.

For questions or comments about this web site, please e-mail the Sector Webmaster