Vessel Sanitation Inspection Fees to Remain in Place for 2026

Strategic Insights -

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced that the vessel sanitation inspection fees instituted in fiscal year (FY) 2025 will continue in FY 2026 and remain in place until further notice or a modification is published. These inspections are conducted by HHS/CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) to ensure cruise line industry compliance with comprehensive sanitation programs, minimizing the risk of environmentally associated illnesses and hazards.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) was established in the 1970s as a cooperative activity with the cruise ship industry to prevent and control the introduction and spread of environmentally associated illnesses and hazards on cruise ships.
  • VSP operates under the authority of the Public Health Service Act (Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act; 42 U.S.C. 264, "Control of Communicable Diseases") and conducts inspections based on regulations found at 42 CFR 71.41.
  • The fee schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise ships was first published in the Federal Register on November 24, 1987, and has been most recently updated on September 23, 2024.
  • The fee schedule is presented in Appendix A and will remain in place until further notice or a modification is published.
  • The fees will apply to all passenger cruise vessels for which inspections are conducted as part of HHS/CDC's VSP.
  • The formula used to determine the fees includes the total cost of VSP, the weighted number of annual inspections, and the vessel size and location.
  • The fees for each vessel size are as follows:

+ Tier 1 (GT ≤ 30,000): $16,146 (operational inspection fee) and $32,292 (construction and renovation inspection fee)

+ Tier 2 (30,001-110,000 GT): $32,292 (operational inspection fee) and $64,584 (construction and renovation inspection fee)

+ Tier 3 (110,001-180,000 GT): $32,292 (operational inspection fee) and $64,584 (construction and renovation inspection fee)

+ Tier 4 (180,001 GT): $64,584 (operational inspection fee) and $129,168 (construction and renovation inspection fee)

Statistics:

  • The VSP operates under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 361 (42 U.S.C. 264).
  • The regulations for sanitary inspections can be found in 42 CFR 71.41.
  • The first published fee schedule for sanitation inspections was on November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019).
  • The most recent update to the fee schedule was on September 23, 2024 (89 FR 77513).
  • The total cost of VSP will be determined using the formula: Total cost of VSP = Total cost of operating the program + Weighted number of annual inspections.
  • The fees will remain in place until further notice or a modification is published.

Sources:

  • Washington: Office of the Federal Register.
  • [FR Doc. 2025-15595 Filed 8-14-25; 8:45 am]
  • 42 CFR 71.41
  • 42 U.S.C. 264
  • https://www.lr.org/en/
  • The Federal Register, November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019).
  • The Federal Register, September 23, 2024 (89 FR 77513).