Controlled Substances Management for Vessels
- Reviewed by Ann Jarris MD, FACEP
- 21 CFR 1301.25
Seattle, 2016
Ann Jarris MD, FACEP
21 CFR 1301.25
24 / 7 physician access
If your vessels carry Schedule II-V medication, it does
- Any vessel engaged in international trade, or in trade between ports of the United States
- Any merchant vessel belonging to the US Government
- Any other entity of fixed or transient location approved by the DEA Administrator, such as emergency kits at industrial field sites
Three moving parts, one physician accountable for all of them
1 The medical officer
- Licensed in a state as a physician
- Employed by the vessel owner or operator
- DEA-registered, with Form 223 details readily retrievable at the principal office
2 The records aboard
- Copy 2 of every record of sale, retained aboard the vessel
- Written requisition on the vessel official stationery, with official number and country of registry
- Disposal handled in accordance with 21 CFR part 1317
3 The two annual reports
- Medical officer report, dated to registration expiry, per vessel plus a fleet summary
- Master report, for each calendar year, filed with the medical officer
Every requirement above is yours to maintain, or ours
| Requirement | In-house officer | Discovery Health MD |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed, employed physician | You hire & payroll | Provided |
| DEA registration structure | You build & maintain | Provided & maintained |
| Multi-owner rules, 1301.25(c) | You track per-owner | Handled |
| Requisitions & records of sale | Your crew & vendor | Documented & audited |
| Annual reports (e) and (h) | You track two clocks | Prepared & filed |
| Officer training | You build a program | Included |
Directed by a board-certified emergency physician
Ann Jarris, MD, MBA, FACEP
Last reviewed: July 2026
References. 21 CFR 1301.25 (Registration regarding ocean vessels, aircraft, and other entities), ecfr.gov 21 CFR part 1317 (Disposal). Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, Article 32. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, Article 14. Amendment history: 62 FR 13951 (1997), 79 FR 53561 (2014), 84 FR 68342 (2019).
Answers buyers and search engines are looking for
Who is allowed to dispense controlled substances on a vessel?
Controlled substances must be dispensed under the supervision of a state-licensed physician, employed by the owner or operator, and DEA-registered, per 21 CFR 1301.25. We provide that medical officer and the registration structure. See Controlled Substances →
Is SeaDoc a replacement for free radio medical advice?
No. Free 24/7 radio or satellite advice is your right under MLC 2006 Standard A4.1(4)(d). SeaDoc is the private enhancement: emergency room doctors who know your fleet, chest and crew. See SeaDoc Telehealth →
Do you cover US-flag and open-registry vessels?
Yes, US-flag plus major open registries including the Marshall Islands, Panama and Liberia, each mapped to its own requirements. See MedChest →
Tell us your vessels. We will map the coverage they need.
- ✓ Physician-led review, not a sales call
- ✓ Every flag state and voyage type
- ✓ One team for all four services
- ✓ We reply within one business day
