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United States Ship Medical Chest Regulation
Regulation at a glance
Last verified · 31 August 2026
The preserved U.S. government publication is the 2003 edition. Operators must combine the statutory requirement with the current Coast Guard rules that apply to their vessel type.
Disclaimer: This page is a practical overview and not legal advice. Always check the current flag-state notices and vessel-specific requirements.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Specified United States vessels on foreign or intercoastal voyages. Additional first-aid and medical-equipment rules can apply according to vessel type and certificate of inspection.
Federal law requires a medicine chest for the voyages described in 46 U.S.C. §11102. The 2003 U.S. government publication The Ship’s Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea is a medical reference, not a standalone replacement for all current vessel-specific legal requirements.
Keep medicines, medical equipment and first-aid supplies complete, in date and ready for use.
Check the current official sources and vessel particulars before supply, replenishment or certification.
Check cargo-specific medical-store requirements
Where dangerous goods are carried, review cargo-specific medical-store requirements and the current IMDG Code alongside this flag-state framework. The applicable flag-state rules remain controlling.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Keep the statutory basis and vessel-specific working records together so the medical chest can be checked efficiently on board.
HOW SEAFARMA CAN HELP
Seafarma can translate the applicable requirements into a practical vessel-specific supply, inspection and delivery workflow.
Identify the applicable medical-store framework and vessel category.
Prepare medicines, equipment and first-aid supplies for the applicable scale.
Support inventory checks and readiness for the applicable inspection process.
Arrange worldwide delivery to the vessel and coordinate ETA, berth, agent details and handover instructions.
When the vessel is carrying dangerous goods, the medical chest should also be in accordance with the following regulation:
get in touch
Seafarma can supply medical chests tailored to United States vessel and voyage requirements. Final contents must be checked against current federal law, applicable Coast Guard regulations and the vessel’s certificate of inspection.
