🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for drydock and internal structural examinations of cargo vessels • Difference in inspection intervals for vessels operating exclusively in freshwater versus salt or brackish water • How hull material (steel, single hull) affects required inspection frequency

💭 Think About

• First, recall the standard drydock interval for similar-sized steel cargo vessels not restricted to freshwater, then compare how freshwater-only operation modifies that interval. • Think about why the Coast Guard allows a different interval for freshwater vessels—how does corrosion and fouling differ between fresh and salt water? • Ask yourself whether freshwater operation would generally justify a shorter, the same, or a longer interval compared to saltwater operation.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify the exact 46 CFR subchapter and section that covers drydock intervals for inspected cargo vessels. • Confirm that you are looking at the provisions for single hull, steel, cargo vessels, not tankships, passenger vessels, or barges. • Verify that the interval you choose is the one specifically labeled for vessels operating exclusively in freshwater, not the general default interval.