CATEGORY
DEA Controlled Substances on Vessels
How US vessels buy, store, log, report and dispose of controlled substances under DEA rules, including 21 CFR 1301.25, the two annual reports and inspection records.
About this category
Written for the operator, cited to the rule
What this category covers
Acquisition, storage, dispensing, recordkeeping and disposal of controlled substances on vessels, plus the registration structure that makes all of it lawful.
Why it matters more than it looks
A general marine supplier legally cannot touch these medications. Getting the structure wrong does not break anything visible, it surfaces during an inspection. See 21 CFR 1301.25 and part 1317 for disposal.
What medical equipment and guides must a ship carry?
Under MLC 2006 Standard A4.1(4)(a), every ship must carry a medicine chest, medical equipment and a medical guide, inspected at regular intervals and at least once every 12 months. Contents are set by the flag state using the WHO International Medical Guide for Ships. Vessels holding controlled substances also need a DEA-registered medical officer under 21 CFR 1301.25.
Sources: MLC 2006 Standard A4.1 and Guideline B4.1.1 (ILO), WHO International Medical Guide for Ships 3rd edition and its Quantification Addendum, 21 CFR 1301.25 (eCFR).
Start here
The guide operators open first
MOST READ · GUIDE
21 CFR 1301.25 explained, for the people who have to comply with it
The whole rule, paragraph by paragraph: who it applies to, the three medical officer conditions, and both annual reports.
- August 5, 2026
Common questions
Answers operators and search engines look for
Reading about compliance is not the same as being compliant
Tell us your vessels, flags and routes. A physician reviews your controlled substances, medicine chest and regulatory picture and shows you the gaps.
- ✓ Physician-led review, not a sales call
- ✓ Every flag state and voyage type
- ✓ One team for all three services
- ✓ We reply within one business day
Call our physician team
888.683.7988