Regulation library · Maritime
Three rulebooks, one waterfront. Know which one you're standing in.
OSHA regulates maritime work through three distinct parts: 29 CFR 1915 for shipyard employment, 1917 for marine terminals, and 1918 for longshoring aboard vessels. The right standard depends on where the work happens — sometimes down to which side of the gangway you're on.
Key sections at a glance
Part 1915
Shipyard Employment
1915 Subpart B
Confined & Enclosed Spaces
Part 1917
Marine Terminals
Part 1918
Longshoring
§1910.16
Longshoring & Marine Terminal Coverage
The three maritime parts
Part 1915 (Shipyard Employment) covers ship construction, repair, breaking, and related employment on vessels and in shipyards — including its own confined-space regime built around the Marine Chemist and shipyard competent person. Part 1917 (Marine Terminals) governs cargo handling and related work at wharves, terminals, and adjacent storage areas, but not aboard vessels. Part 1918 (Longshoring) picks up cargo operations aboard vessels — hatch work, cargo gear, and vessel access.
General industry standards from Part 1910 still fill the gaps where the maritime parts are silent, and construction work at a port facility can bring 1926 into play. Jurisdiction also interlocks with the U.S. Coast Guard for vessel operations — OSHA generally covers working conditions the Coast Guard doesn't regulate.
Where maritime enforcement concentrates
Maritime work combines the hazards of construction, general industry, and confined spaces in one environment: hot work in tanks, atmospheric hazards in cargo holds, fall exposures on drydocks and vessel decks, and powered equipment moving through congested terminals. Shipyard confined-space entry under Subpart B of 1915 and cargo-gear certification under 1918 draw consistent enforcement attention, and Letters of Interpretation are essential reading on questions like when a Marine Chemist certificate is required.
Maritime in RegLogic
RegLogic presents the maritime parts in the same color-coded, searchable interface as the rest of the CFR library, with LOIs attached in context and same-day updates. For safety leads covering a yard, a terminal, and vessels in the same week, one library that answers "which part governs this task?" is the difference between confidence and guesswork.
Read Maritime Regulations — searchable, color-coded, always current — in RegLogic.
Start HereFAQ
Common questions
Which OSHA part applies to my waterfront operation?
Shipyard work (construction, repair, breaking of vessels) falls under 1915; shoreside cargo and terminal operations under 1917; cargo handling aboard vessels under 1918. Part 1910 fills gaps, and 1926 applies to construction projects at the facility.
What is a Marine Chemist certificate?
Under 1915 Subpart B, certain spaces aboard vessels require testing and certification by an NFPA-certificated Marine Chemist before entry or hot work — a stricter regime than the general industry confined-space standard.
Does OSHA or the Coast Guard regulate my vessel work?
It depends on the vessel and the condition at issue. OSHA generally covers working conditions of shoreside and shipyard employees, while the Coast Guard regulates inspected vessels' operations. LOIs and directives map the boundary.
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