Attention Coast Guard Employers: COVID-19 Guidance for Maritime Operators on Compliance with Federal Drug Testing Requirements

The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin on March 27, 2020.

The purpose of the Bulletin is as follows:
To help protect our essential maritime workforce, while also ensuring drug testing continues to serve as a deterrent, the Coast Guard is providing the following guidance, which, along with any subsequent updates, will remain in effect during the COVID-19 national emergency.

The Bulletin outlines recommended actions for marine employers with mariners in safety sensitive positions who are subject to drug testing under 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 16.

The Bulletin also states as follows:
Marine employers with specific questions or concerns regarding drug or alcohol testing over the course of the pandemic may send inquiries to the CG-INV Drug and Alcohol Program Coordinator atDAPI@uscg.mil .

Please reference the following link for additional details on Random, Pre-Employment Testing, Post-Casualty Testing for Serious Marine Incidents, and Reasonable Cause Testing.

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/documents/MSIB-10-20_Novel_COVID-19_Drug-Testing_Requirements.pdf?ver=2020-03-27-144839-417