General Rules for Tankers, Owned or Operating in the USA - 2025 Edition

Published: December 2024

The new edition, comprised of the latest available US Federal regulations at the time of compilation, has been expanded and revised to incorporate recent regulatory updates, including:

• Oil Cargoes
• Gas Cargoes and Liquefied Flammable Gases
• Noxious Liquid Substances
• Control of Pollution and Hazardous Substances, including Financial Liabilities
• Chemicals, Marine Pollutants, Dangerous Goods and Hazards
• Ballast Water Management Requirements
• Marine Casualties and Inspections
• Maritime Security Requirements
• Recordkeeping Requirements
• Rules for the Safe Operation of Tankers including Navigation Rules
• Life-Saving Appliances and Fire-Fighting Equipment
• Workplace Safety and Health
• Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements
• Vessel Inspection Alternatives
• Tanker Design, Construction and Ship Stability
• Port and Terminal Operations.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION IX

33 CFR - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS 1

PART 26 - Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations 3

PART 27 - Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation 7

PART 62 - United States Aids to Navigation System 11

PART 64 - Marking of Structures, Sunken Vessels and Other Obstructions 21

PART 66 - Private Aids to Navigation 25

PART 67 - Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures 35

PART 72 - Marine Information 51

PART 80 - COLREGS Demarcation Lines 55

PART 81 - 72 COLREGS: Implementing Rules 73

PART 82 - 72 COLREGS: Interpretative Rules 77

PART 83 - Navigation Rules 79

PART 84 - Annex I: Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes 97

PART 86 - Annex III: Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances 103

PART 87 - Annex IV: Distress Signals 107

PART 88 - Annex V: Pilot Rules 109

PART 89 - Inland Navigation Rules: Implementing Rules 111

PART 90 - Inland Rules: Interpretative Rules 115

PART 95 - Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug 117

PART 96 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels and Safety Management Systems 121

PART 97 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels, Stowage and Securing of Cargoes 135

PART 101 - Maritime Security: General 141

PART 104 - Maritime Security: Vessels 159

PART 125 - Identification Credentials for Persons Requiring Access to Waterfront Facilities or Vessels 185

PART 126 - Handling of Dangerous Cargo at Waterfront Facilities 195

PART 127 - Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas and Liquefied Hazardous Gas 205

PART 138 - Evidence of Financial Responsibility for Water Pollution (Vessels) and OPA 90 Limits of Liability (Vessels, Deepwater Ports and Onshore Facilities) 233

PART 140 - Outer Continental Shelf Activities: General 253

PART 141 - Personnel 261

PART 142 - Workplace Safety and Health 267

PART 143 - Design and Equipment 271

PART 144 - Lifesaving Appliances 277

PART 145 - Fire-fighting Equipment 281

PART 146 - Operations 285

PART 147 - Safety Zones 299

PART 150 - Deepwater Ports: Operations 315

PART 151 - Pollution: Vessels Carrying Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, Garbage, Municipal or Commercial Waste, and Ballast Water 347

SECTION 151.1510: Ballast Water Management Requirements 390

PART 153 - Control of Pollution by Oil and Hazardous Substances, Discharge Removal 405

PART 154 - Facilities Transferring Oil or Hazardous Material in Bulk 411

PART 155 - Oil or Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention Regulations for Vessels 513

PART 156 - Oil and Hazardous Material Transfer Operations 613

PART 157 - Rules for the Protection of the Marine Environment Relating to Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk 629

PART 158 - Reception Facilities for Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, and Garbage 695

PART 159 - Marine Sanitation Devices 707

PART 161 - Ports and Waterways Safety: Vessel Traffic Management 727

PART 164 - Navigation Safety Regulations 749

PART 168 - Escort Requirements for Certain Tankers 775

PART 169 - Ship Reporting Systems 779

40 CFR - PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT 787

PART 63 - SUBPART Y: National Emission Standards for Marine Tank Vessel Loading Operations 789

PART 98 - SUBPART W: Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems 823

46 CFR - SHIPPING 921

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.01: Inspecting and Certificating of Vessels 923

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.10: Fees 939

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.20: Reports and Forms 947

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.75: Approvals of Safety Equipment, Materials and Installations, and Qualifications for Construction Personnel 949

PART 4 - Marine Casualties and Investigations 953

SUBPART 4.06: Mandatory Chemical Testing Following Serious Marine Incidents Involving Vessels in Commercial Service 960

PART 8 - Vessel Inspection Alternatives 971

PART 13 - Certification Of Tankermen 985

PART 16 - Chemical Testing 1007

PART 30 - General Provisions 1017

PART 31 - Inspection and Certification 1041

PART 32 - Special Equipment, Machinery, and Hull Requirements 1059

SUBPART 32.53: Inert Gas System 1072

PART 34 - Fire Fighting Equipment 1091

PART 35 - Operations 1113

SUBPART 35.07: Logbook Entries 1121

SUBPART 35.10: Fire and Emergency Requirements 1122

SUBPART 35.20: Navigation 1123

SUBPART 35.30: General Safety Rules 1126

SUBPART 35.35: Cargo Handling 1129

PART 36 - Elevated Temperature Cargoes 1137

PART 37 - Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes 1139

PART 38 - Liquefied Flammable Gases 1155

PART 39 - Vapor Control Systems 1173

PART 42 - Domestic and Foreign Voyages by Sea 1189

PART 54 - SUBPART 54.15: SECTION 54.15-25: Minimum Relief Capacities for Cargo Tanks Containing Compressed or Liquefied Gas 1251

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.04: Piping Classification 1255

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.50: Design Requirements Pertaining to Specific Systems 1257

PART 58 - Main and Auxiliary Machinery and Related Systems 1283

PART 64 - Marine Portable Tanks and Cargo Handling Systems 1313

PART 90 - General Provisions 1321

PART 91 - Inspection and Certification 1329

PART 92 - Construction and Arrangement 1349

PART 93 - Stability 1361

PART 95 - Fire Protection Equipment 1363

PART 96 - Vessel Control and Miscellaneous Systems and Equipment 1385

PART 97 - Operations 1391

PART 98 - Special Construction, Arrangement, and Other Provisions for Certain Dangerous Cargoes in Bulk 1407

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-29: Combustible Liquid Cargo Carriers 1425

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-31: Flammable or Combustible Cargo with a Flashpoint Below 60?C (140?F), Carriers of Liquid-Sulphur or Inorganic Acid 1427

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-32: Bulk Liquefied Flammable Gas and Ammonia Carriers 1429

PART 150 - Compatibility of Cargoes 1431

PART 153 - Ships Carrying Bulk Liquid, Liquefied Gas, or Compressed Gas Hazardous Materials 1487

SUBPART A: General 1490

SUBPART B: Design and Equipment 1499

SUBPART C: Operations 1519

SUBPART D: Test and Calculation Proce-dures for Determining Stripping Quan-tity, Clingage NLS Residue, and Total NLS Residue 1539

PART 154 - Safety Standards for Self-Propelled Vessels Carrying Bulk Liquefied Gases 1563

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.017: General Provisions; Valves, Pressure-Vacuum Relief, for Tank Vessels 1625

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.018: Safety Relief Valves, Liquefied Compressed Gas 1629

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.050: Pollution Prevention Equipment 1633

PART 170 - Stability Requirements for All Inspected Vessels 1653

PART 172 - SUBPART F: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Hazardous Liquid Regulated Under Subchapter O of this Chapter 1673

PART 172 - SUBPART G: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Bulk Liquefied Gas Regulated Under Subchapter O of this Chapter 1675

PART 197 - SUBPART C: Benzene 1679

PART 199 - SUBPART B: Requirements for All Vessels 1707

PART 199 - SUBPART D: Additional Requirements for Cargo Vessels 1729

47 CFR - TELECOMMUNICATION 1733

PART 80 - Stations in the Maritime Services 1735

SUBPART A: General Information 1740

SUBPART B: Applications and Licenses 1751

SUBPART C: Operating Requirements and Procedures 1761

SUBPART D: Operator Requirements 1776

SUBPART E: General Technical Standards 1780

SUBPART F: Equipment Authorization for Compulsory Ships 1796

SUBPART G: Safety Watch Requirements and Procedures 1799

SUBPART H: Frequencies 1808

SUBPART I: Station Documents 1838

SUBPART J: Public Coast Stations 1844

SUBPART K: Private Coast Stations and Marine Utility Stations 1847

SUBPART L: Operational Fixed Stations 1850

SUBPART M: Stations in the Radiodetermination Service 1851

SUBPART N: Maritime Support Stations 1851

SUBPART O: Alaska Fixed Stations 1852

SUBPART P: Standards for Computing Public Coast Station VHF Coverage 1853

SUBPART R: Technical Equipment Requirements for Cargo Vessels Not Subject to Subpart W 1862

SUBPART S: Compulsory Radiotelephone Installations for Small Passenger Boats 1868

SUBPART T: Radiotelephone Installation Required for Vessels on the Great Lakes 1875

SUBPART U: Radiotelephone Installations Required by the Bridge-to-Bridge Act 1878

SUBPART V: Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs) 1880

SUBPART W: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) 1882

SUBPART X: Voluntary Radio Installations 1902

49 CFR - TRANSPORTATION 1907

PART 130 - Oil Spill Prevention and Response Plans 1909

PART 171 - SUBPART B: Incident Reporting, Notification, BOE Approvals and Authorization 1919

PART 172 - SUBPART D: SECTION 172.322: Marine Pollutants 1923

PART 172 - SUBPART D: SECTION 172.328: Cargo Tanks 1925

PART 176 - SUBPART H: Detailed Requirements for Class 2 (Compressed Gas) Materials 1927

PART 176 - SUBPART I: Detailed Requirements for Class 3 (Flammable) and Combustible Liquid Materials 1929

PART 193 - Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards 1933

JONES ACT 1955

OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 1967