Ship officer notification requirements

You must notify the officer in charge of the vessel before bringing aboard any internal combustion or electric powered tools, equipment, or vehicles. See 1918.67(a).

• The regulation uses the phrase "the officer in charge of the vessel," so notification should be made to that person or someone the officer designates.
• This is a stand-alone requirement in the longshoring rules; failing to notify can be a violation of 1918.67.

Yes. You must notify the officer in charge of the vessel before using the ship's electric power to operate any electric tools or equipment, as required by 1918.67(b).

• This covers any situation where your equipment will be powered from the ship's electrical system (including plugging into ship outlets or using ship-supplied power connections).

Yes. "Bringing aboard ship" explicitly includes internal combustion or electric powered tools, equipment, or vehicles; vehicles are listed in the text of 1918.67(a).

• Examples include gasoline- or diesel-powered generators, portable compressors, electric pallet jacks, or forklifts that are brought onto the vessel.

The standard requires notification, not a specific form of permission, but the ship's officer may impose conditions or refuse use for safety reasons. See 1918.67.

• OSHA's text obligates the employer to notify the officer in charge; it does not specify that written permission is required.
• In practice, coordinate with the officer in charge because the vessel may restrict use of its power or access for safety or equipment-compatibility reasons (for example, see related guidance about equipment modifications and approvals in the strobe-light Letter of Interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-12-21-0).

Notification must be made before you bring the internal combustion or electric powered tools, equipment, or vehicles aboard, and before you use the ship's electric power, per 1918.67(a) and (b).

• The standard does not set a specific lead time; reasonable advance notice is best so the officer in charge can assess hazards and any required precautions.
• For complex or modifying activities (e.g., installing equipment or making electrical changes), give enough time to obtain any approvals or to arrange safe disconnects (see the strobe-light Letter of Interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-12-21-0).

No, 1918.67 does not specify a required method; it only requires that the employer notify the officer in charge before bringing aboard or using ship power (1918.67(a) and (b)).

• Although not mandatory, written notice or documented confirmation is a good practice so there is a clear record of the safety coordination and any conditions set by the vessel.

Yes. Battery-powered cordless tools are electric-powered and fall under the requirement to notify the officer in charge before bringing them aboard, as stated in 1918.67(a).

• Note: if you only bring cordless tools and do not use the ship's electric power to charge or operate them, the separate notification rule in 1918.67(b) does not apply.

Yes. Charging batteries using the ship's electrical system is using the ship's electric power and requires notifying the officer in charge under 1918.67(b).

• Charging equipment or battery chargers that draw power from the ship should be included in your notification and any safety checks the officer requests.

Yes. A portable gasoline (internal combustion) generator brought aboard is covered by [1918.67(a)], which requires that you notify the officer in charge before bringing aboard internal combustion powered equipment or vehicles (1918.67(a)).

• Coordinate with the vessel officer about fuel storage, exhaust ventilation, hot work, and placement to address fire and fume hazards.

Both parties share responsibility: the employer must notify and ensure its equipment is safe for use, and the ship's officer is responsible for shipboard electrical safety and may set conditions. See 1918.67(b).

• Employers should provide information about equipment electrical requirements and ensure their tools/equipment meet safety requirements.
• The vessel’s officer may require checks, limits, or approvals to avoid overloading ship circuits or creating hazards; for major modifications or additions, follow the approval guidance discussed in the strobe-light Letter of Interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-12-21-0.

Yes. Using any ship electric power to operate tools or equipment—even small hand tools—requires prior notification to the officer in charge under 1918.67(b).

• Explain the tool type, power draw, location, and expected duration when you notify so the officer can evaluate circuit capacity and safety.

If the vessel officer prohibits use of the ship's electrical system, you must follow the vessel's direction; using an alternative power source still requires coordination and may raise separate safety concerns. See 1918.67(b).

• If you plan to use shore power or an independent generator, notify and coordinate with the officer in charge anyway to address grounding, cable routing, and fire or ventilation hazards.
• Vessel decisions about onboard power use are part of maintaining safe operations; OSHA requires the employer to notify but does not override vessel safety control.

No. Notification under 1918.67 is in addition to, and does not replace, other OSHA requirements; you must still comply with all applicable standards for equipment, training, and PPE (see Part 1918).

• OSHA's jurisdiction and applicability guidance makes clear that multiple standards can apply to the same operation; you must meet the specific requirements relevant to the equipment and task (see the applicability Letter of Interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1991-02-19).

While 1918.67 is in the longshoring regulations and is aimed at cargo handling and related shipboard activities, the plain requirement to notify the officer in charge applies whenever an employer brings onboard the specified powered tools, equipment, or vehicles or uses the ship's electric power (1918.67).

• If contractors perform work aboard the ship that involves those tools or ship power, you should follow the notification rule and coordinate with the vessel officer.

Yes. You must notify the officer in charge of each vessel before bringing aboard powered tools, equipment, or vehicles or before using that vessel's electric power, in accordance with 1918.67(a) and (b).

• Each vessel is a separate workplace environment with its own officer in charge and unique safety considerations.

The standard does not prescribe specific content, but you should include the employer name, a description of the tools/equipment/vehicle, the power source (internal combustion, battery, or ship electric), where and when it will be used, and any safety measures. See 1918.67(a) and (b).

• Providing this information helps the officer assess circuit capacity, fire/fume risks, required permits, or special accommodations (and it creates a clear record of coordination).

No. 1918.67 specifically requires notification before bringing aboard internal combustion or electric powered tools, equipment, or vehicles, and before using the ship's electric power (1918.67(a) and (b)).

• For other ship utilities (steam, compressed air, fuel, etc.) you should still coordinate with the officer in charge because vessel policies and other regulations may require permits, isolation, or precautions.

1918.67 places the notification obligation on the employer who brings internal combustion or electric powered tools, equipment, or vehicles aboard; ship crew acting as vessel personnel generally operate under the vessel's control. See 1918.67.

• If a shore-side employer or contractor brings tools onto the ship, that employer must notify the officer in charge.

Yes—bringing modified or newly equipped powered trucks aboard remains subject to notification under 1918.67(a). Additionally, equipment modifications that affect safety or capacity may require written approval from the manufacturer or a registered professional engineer, as discussed in OSHA's Letter of Interpretation about strobe lights at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-12-21-0.

• If a modification affects safe operation, coordinate with the vessel officer and obtain required approvals before use.

Failure to notify the officer in charge as required by 1918.67 may result in an OSHA citation because the rule is a mandatory requirement in the longshoring standards.

• Beyond regulatory consequences, failing to notify can create unaddressed hazards such as electrical overloads, fire risks, ventilation/ fume hazards, or conflict with vessel safety procedures.

Yes. Using ship's electric power for temporary lighting is covered by 1918.67(b) and requires notification to the officer in charge before you connect and operate the lighting.

• Include the power draw, number and location of lights, and the duration in your notification so the officer can assess circuit capacity and safety.

If the equipment is powered through the ship's electrical system (including shore connections that feed the ship's distribution), it is considered using the ship's electric power and requires notification under 1918.67(b).

• If power bypasses the ship’s systems and is provided directly from shore through employer-controlled equipment, notify and coordinate anyway to address cables, access, and safety with the officer in charge.

Yes. Notification can be provided during a pre-job safety meeting so long as it occurs before the powered tools, equipment, vehicles, or ship power are brought aboard or used, consistent with 1918.67(a) and (b).

• Make sure the officer in charge of the vessel (or their designated representative) is present or receives the notification before work begins.

Yes. Charging or operating an electric vehicle from the ship's electrical system uses ship electric power and requires notification to the officer in charge under 1918.67(b).

• Also notify under 1918.67(a) because the vehicle itself is an electric powered vehicle being brought aboard.