Controlled substances aboard vessels
Written for the operator, cited to the rule
Acquisition, storage, dispensing, recordkeeping and disposal of controlled substances on vessels, plus the registration structure that makes all of it lawful.
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?
The guide operators open first
21 CFR 1301.25 explained, for the people who have to comply with it
- August 5, 2026
Answers operators and search engines look for
No. The registration attaches to the medical officer, held at the principal office of the owner or operator, or elsewhere provided the Form 223 details are readily retrievable at the principal office, per 21 CFR 1301.25(b)(3). Read the full explainer or see Controlled Substances.
Yes, under a single registration, but only while every vessel shares one owner or operator. A second owner triggers a separate registration or the Form 223 route, per 21 CFR 1301.25(c).
The master or first officer may purchase directly, without being registered, by appearing in person at the vendor with photo identification and a written requisition on the vessel official stationery, per 21 CFR 1301.25(d).
They live inside it. The chest follows MLC 2006 and flag-state rules, the controlled portion follows 21 CFR 1301.25. We run both as one program, see MedChest.
Reading about compliance is not the same as being compliant
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