(a) A towing vessel may not be operated without having onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202.

(b) Each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter must be in full compliance with the terms of the COI.

(c) If necessary to prevent the delay of the vessel, the Coast Guard may issue a temporary COI to a towing vessel, pending the issuance and delivery of the permanent COI. The temporary COI must be carried in the same manner as the regular COI and is equivalent to the permanent COI that it represents.

(d) A towing vessel on a foreign voyage between a port in the United States and a port in a foreign country whose COI expires during the voyage may lawfully complete the voyage without a valid COI, provided the voyage is completed within 30 days of expiration, and provided that the COI did not expire within 15 days of sailing on the foreign voyage from a U.S. port.