[Title 33 CFR 155]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2005 Edition]
[Title 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS]
[Chapter I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)]
[Subchapter O - POLLUTION]
[Part 155 - OIL OR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL POLLUTION PREVENTION REGULATIONS]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


33NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS22005-07-012005-07-01falseOIL OR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL POLLUTION PREVENTION REGULATIONS155PART 155NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERSCOAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)POLLUTION
PART 155_OIL OR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL POLLUTION PREVENTION REGULATIONS 
FOR VESSELS--Table of Contents




                            Subpart A_General

Sec.
155.100 Applicability.
155.110 Definitions.
155.120 Equivalents.
155.130 Exemptions.
155.140 Incorporation by reference.

                       Subpart B_Vessel Equipment

155.200 Definitions.

[[Page 388]]

155.205 Discharge removal equipment for vessels 400 feet or greater in 
          length.
155.210 Discharge removal equipment for vessels less than 400 feet in 
          length.
155.215 Discharge removal equipment for inland oil barges.
155.220 Discharge removal equipment for vessels carrying oil as 
          secondary cargo.
155.225 Internal cargo transfer capability.
155.230 Emergency control systems for tank barges.
155.235 Emergency towing capability for oil tankers.
155.240 Damage stability information for oil tankers and offshore oil 
          barges.
155.245 Damage stability information for inland oil barges.
155.310 Containment of oil and hazardous material cargo discharges.
155.320 Fuel oil and bulk lubricating oil discharge containment.
155.330 Oily mixture (bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 
          discharges on U.S. non-oceangoing ships.
155.350 Oily mixture (Bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 
          discharges on oceangoing ships of less than 400 gross tons.
155.360 Oily Mixture (Bilge slops) discharges on oceangoing ships of 400 
          gross tons and above but less than 10,000 gross tons, 
          excluding ships that carry ballast water in their fuel oil 
          tanks.
155.370 Oily mixture (bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 
          discharges on oceangoing ships of 10,000 gross tons and above 
          and oceangoing ships of 400 gross tons and above that carry 
          ballast water in their fuel oil tanks.
155.380 Oily-water separating equipment, bilge alarm, and bilge monitor 
          approval standards.
155.400 Platform machinery space drainage on oceangoing fixed and 
          floating drilling rigs and other platforms.
155.410 Pumping, piping and discharge requirements for U.S. non-
          oceangoing ships of 100 gross tons and above.
155.420 Pumping, piping and discharge requirements for oceangoing ships 
          of 100 gross tons and above but less than 400 gross tons.
155.430 Standard discharge connections for oceangoing ships of 400 gross 
          tons and above.
155.440 Segregation of fuel oil and ballast water on new oceangoing 
          ships of 4,000 gross tons and above, other than oil tankers, 
          and on new oceangoing oil tankers of 150 gross tons and above.
155.450 Placard.
155.470 Prohibited spaces.
155.480 Overfill devices.
155.490 Tank level or pressure monitoring devices.

    Subpart C_Transfer Personnel, Procedures, Equipment, and Records

155.700 Designation of person in charge.
155.710 Qualifications of person in charge.
155.715 Contents of letter of designation as a person-in-charge of the 
          transfer of fuel oil.
155.720 Transfer procedures.
155.730 Compliance with transfer procedures.
155.740 Availability of transfer procedures.
155.750 Contents of transfer procedures.
155.760 Amendment of transfer procedures.
155.770 Draining into bilges.
155.775 Maximum cargo level of oil.
155.780 Emergency shutdown.
155.785 Communications.
155.790 Deck lighting.
155.800 Transfer hose.
155.805 Closure devices.
155.810 Tank vessel security.
155.815 Tank vessel integrity.
155.820 Records.

                        Subpart D_Response Plans

155.1010 Purpose.
155.1015 Applicability.
155.1020 Definitions.
155.1025 Operating restrictions and interim operating authorization.
155.1026 Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual.
155.1030 General response plan requirements.
155.1035 Response plan requirements for manned vessels carrying oil as a 
          primary cargo.
155.1040 Response plan requirements for unmanned tank barges carrying 
          oil as a primary cargo.
155.1045 Response plan requirements for vessels carrying oil as a 
          secondary cargo.
155.1050 Response plan development and evaluation criteria for vessels 
          carrying groups I through IV petroleum oil as a primary cargo.
155.1052 Response plan development and evaluation criteria for vessels 
          carrying group V petroleum oil as a primary cargo.
155.1055 Training.
155.1060 Exercises.
155.1062 Inspection and maintenance of response resources.
155.1065 Procedures for plan submission, approval, requests for 
          acceptance of alternative planning criteria, and appeal.

[[Page 389]]

155.1070 Procedures for plan review, revision, amendment, and appeal.

  Subpart E_Additional Response Plan Requirements for Tankers Loading 
     Cargo at a Facility Permitted Under the Trans-Alaska Pipeline 
                            Authorization Act

155.1110 Purpose and applicability.
155.1115 Definitions.
155.1120 Operating restrictions and interim operating authorization.
155.1125 Additional response plan requirements.
155.1130 Requirements for prepositioned response equipment.
155.1135 Response plan development and evaluation criteria.
155.1145 Submission and approval procedures.
155.1150 Plan revision and amendment procedures.

 Subpart F_Response plan requirements for vessels carrying animal fats 
                  and vegetable oils as a primary cargo

155.1210 Purpose and applicability.
155.1225 Response plan submission requirements.
155.1230 Response plan development and evaluation criteria.

  Subpart G_Response Plan Requirements for Vessels Carrying Other Non-
                    Petroleum Oils as a Primary Cargo

155.2210 Purpose and applicability.
155.2225 Response plan submission requirements.
155.2230 Response plan development and evaluation criteria.

Appendix A to Part 155--Specifications for Shore Connection
Appendix B to Part 155--Determining and Evaluating Required Response 
          Resources for Vessel Response Plans
Appendix C to Part 155--Training Elements for Oil Spill Response Plans

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231, 1321(j); E.O. 11735, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 
Comp., p. 793. Sections 155.100 through 155.130, 150.350 through 
155.400, 155.430, 155.440, 155.470, 155.1030(j) and (k), and 155.1065(g) 
are also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1903(b). Sections 155.480, 155.490, 
155.750(e), and 155.775 are also issued under 46 U.S.C. 3703. Section 
155.490 also issued under section 4110(b) of Pub. L. 101-380.
    Note: Additional requirements for vessels carrying oil or hazardous 
materials are contained in 46 CFR parts 30 through 40, 150, 151, and 
153.



                            Subpart A_General

    Source: CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45714, Oct. 6, 1983, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.100  Applicability.

    (a) Subject to the exceptions provided for in paragraph (b) and (c) 
of this section, this part applies to each ship that:
    (1) Is operated under the authority of the United States, wherever 
located; or
    (2) Is operated under the authority of a country other than the 
United States while in the navigable waters of the United States, or 
while at a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the United States.
    (b) This part does not apply to:
    (1) A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a 
country when engaged in non-commercial service; or
    (2) Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL 73/78.
    (c) Section 155.480 applies to each tank vessel with a cargo 
capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels), 
loading oil or oil reside as cargo that is operated under the authority 
of the United States, wherever located, or operated under the authority 
of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters 
of the United States, or while at a port or terminal under the 
jurisdiction of the United States.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45714, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 90-071a, 62 
FR 48773, Sept. 17, 1997]



Sec. 155.110  Definitions.

    Except as specifically stated in a section, the definitions in part 
151 of this chapter, except for the word ``oil'', and in part 154 of 
this chapter, apply to this part.

[CGD 90-071a, 59 FR 53290, Oct. 21, 1994]



Sec. 155.120  Equivalents.

    (a) For ships required to be surveyed under Sec. 151.17 of this 
chapter, the Commandant may, upon receipt of a written request, allow 
any fitting, material, appliance or apparatus to be fitted

[[Page 390]]

in a ship as an alternative to that required by both MARPOL 73/78 and 
subpart B of this part if such fitting, material, appliance, or 
apparatus is at least as effective as that required by subpart B. 
Substitution of operational methods to control the discharge of oil in 
place of those design and construction features prescribed by MARPOL 73/
78 that are also prescribed by subpart B of this part is not allowed.
    (b) Any equivalent to a feature prescribed by MARPOL 73/78 that is 
authorized for a ship having an IOPP Certificate is noted on that 
Certificate.
    (c) For tank vessels required to have overfill devices installed 
under parts 155 and 156 of this chapter, the Commandant may, upon 
receipt of a written request, allow any fitting, material, appliance, or 
apparatus to be fitted in a tank vessel as an alternative to the 
required overfill device(s) that are specified in these parts if the 
proposed alternative device is at least as effective as that required in 
the regulations.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45714, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 90-071a, 59 
FR 53290, Oct. 21, 1994]



Sec. 155.130  Exemptions.

    (a) The Commandant grants an exemption or partial exemption from 
compliance with any requirement in this part if:
    (1) A ship operator submits a written request for an exemption via 
the COTP or OCMI thirty (30) days before operations under the exemption 
are proposed unless the COTP or OCMI authorizes a shorter time; and
    (2) It is determined from the request that:
    (i) Compliance with a specific requirement is economically or 
physically impractical;
    (ii) No alternative procedures, methods, or equipment standards 
exist that would provide an equivalent level of protection from 
pollution; and
    (iii) The likelihood of discharges occurring as a result of the 
exemption is minimal.
    (b) If requested, the applicant must submit any appropriate 
information, including an environmental and economic assessment of the 
effects of and the reasons for the exemption and proposed procedures, 
methods, or equipment standards.
    (c) The exemption may specify the procedures, methods, or equipment 
standards that will apply.
    (d) An oceangoing ship is not given an exemption from the 
requirements of subpart B of this part unless the ship is a hydrofoil, 
air cushion vehicle or other new type of ship (near-surface craft, 
submarine craft, etc.) whose constructional features are such as to 
render the application of any of the provisions of subpart B relating to 
construction and equipment unreasonable or impractical. The construction 
and equipment of the ship must provide protection equivalent to that 
afforded by subpart B of this part against pollution, having regard to 
the service for which the ship is intended.
    (e) An exemption is granted or denied in writing. The decision of 
the Commandant is a final agency action.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45714, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36254, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.140  Incorporation by reference.

    (a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part 
with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that 
specified in paragraph (b) of this section, the Coast Guard must publish 
notice of change in the Federal Register and the material must be 
available to the public. All approved material is available for 
inspection at the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Compliance (G-MOC), 2100 
Second Street SW., Washington, 20593-0001, and at the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://
www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--regulations/ibr--
locations.html. All approved material is available from the sources 
indicated in paragraph (b) of this section.
    (b) The material approved for incorporation by reference in this 
part, and the sections affected, are as follows:

American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI) 11 West 42nd Street, 
New York, NY 10036

[[Page 391]]



ANSI A10.14--Requirements for Safety       155.230
 Belts, Harnesses, Lanyards and Lifelines
 for Construction and Demolition Use,
 1991.
 

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 100 Barr Harbor Drive, 
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959

ASTM F 631-93, Standard Guide for          Appendix B.
 Collecting Skimmer Performance Data in
 Controlled Environments.
ASTM F 715-95, Standard Test Methods for   Appendix B.
 Coated Fabrics Used for Oil Spill
 Control and Storage.
ASTM F 722-82 (1993), Standard             Appendix A; Appendix B.
 Specification for Welded Joints for
 Shipboard Piping Systems.
 

International Maritime Organization (IMO)Publications Section, 4 Albert 
Embankment, London SE1 75R, United Kingdom, Telex 23588.

Resolution A.535(13), Recommendations on   155.235
 Emergency Towing Requirements for
 Tankers, November 17, 1983.
Resolution MSC.35(63), Adoption of         155.235
 Guidelines for Emergency Towing
 Arrangement on Tankers, May 20, 1994.
 

Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) 15th Floor, 96 Victoria 
Street, London SW1E 5JW England.

Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum),   155.1035
 Second Edition, 1988.
 


[CGD 91-034, 58 FR 7424, Feb. 5, 1993, as amended by CGD 90-068, 58 FR 
67995, Dec. 22, 1993; CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33666, June 28, 1996; CGD 95-
028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-1998-4443, 63 FR 71763, Dec. 30, 
1998; USCG-1999-5151, 64 FR 67176, Dec. 1, 1999; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 
2004]



                       Subpart B_Vessel Equipment

    Source: CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.200  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart:
    Inland oil barge means a tank barge carrying oil in bulk as cargo 
certificated by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter D for 
river or canal service or lakes, bays, and sounds service.
    On-deck spill means a discharge of oil on the deck of a vessel 
during loading, unloading, transfer, or other shipboard operations. An 
on-deck spill could result from a leaking fitting, an overfill, a bad 
connection, or similar operational mishap. The term on-deck spill is 
used to differentiate these operational discharges from those caused by 
collision or grounding where the hull is punctured and a tank is 
ruptured, resulting in an uncontrolled discharge of oil into the marine 
environment.
    Offshore oil barge means a tank barge carrying oil in bulk as cargo, 
including dual-mode integrated tug-barges, certificated by the Coast 
Guard under 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter D, for navigation in waters 
outside the Boundary Lines, as defined in 46 CFR part 7, in any ocean or 
the Gulf of Mexico; any tank barge in Great Lakes service; or any 
foreign flag tank barge.
    Oil tanker means a self-propelled vessel carrying oil in bulk as 
cargo, including integrated tug-barges designed for push-mode operation.
    Sea state 5, the equivalent of Beaufort number or force 6, is a sea 
condition with winds speeds of 22 to 27 knots and classified as ``strong 
breeze'', and with waves measuring 2.5 to 4 meters in height and 
classified as ``rough''.
    Vessel carrying oil as secondary cargo means a vessel carrying oil 
pursuant to a permit issued under 46 CFR 30.01-5, 46 CFR 70.05-30, or 46 
CFR 90.05-35 or pursuant to an International Oil Pollution Prevention 
(IOPP) or Noxious Liquid Substance (NLS) certificate required by 
Sec. Sec. 151.33 or 151.35 of this chapter; or any uninspected vessel 
that carries oil in bulk as cargo.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-2001-9046, 
67 FR 58524, Sept. 17, 2002]



Sec. 155.205  Discharge removal equipment for vessels 400 feet or 
greater in length.

    (a) Oil tankers and offshore oil barges with an overall length of 
400 feet or more must carry appropriate equipment and supplies for the 
containment and removal of on-deck oil cargo spills of at least 12 
barrels.
    (b) The equipment and supplies must include--

[[Page 392]]

    (1) Sorbents;
    (2) Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;
    (3) Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;
    (4) Emulsifiers for deck cleaning;
    (5) Protective clothing;
    (6) A minimum of one non-sparking portable pump with hoses; and
    (7) Scupper plugs.
    (c) During cargo transfer operations, the equipment and supplies 
must remain ready for immediate use.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.210  Discharge removal equipment for vessels less than 400 
feet in length.

    (a) Oil tankers and offshore oil barges with an overall length of 
less than 400 feet must carry appropriate equipment and supplies for the 
containment and removal of on-deck oil spills of at least 7 barrels.
    (b) The equipment and supplies must include--
    (1) Sorbents;
    (2) Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;
    (3) Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;
    (4) Emulsifiers for deck cleaning;
    (5) Protective clothing;
    (6) A minimum of one non-sparking portable pump with hoses; and
    (7) Scupper plugs.
    (c) During cargo transfer operations, the equipment and supplies 
must remain ready for immediate use.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.215  Discharge removal equipment for inland oil barges.

    (a) During cargo transfer operations, inland oil barges must have 
appropriate equipment and supplies ready for immediate use to control 
and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.
    (b) The equipment and supplies must include--
    (1) Sorbents;
    (2) Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;
    (3) Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;
    (4) Emulsifiers for deck cleaning; and
    (5) Protective clothing.
    (c) The oil barge owner or operator may rely on equipment available 
at the transfer facility receiving from or discharging to the barge, 
provided the barge owner or operator has prearranged for the use of the 
equipment by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.220  Discharge removal equipment for vessels carrying oil as 
secondary cargo.

    (a) Vessels carrying oil as secondary cargo must carry appropriate 
equipment and supplies for the containment and removal of on-deck oil 
cargo spills of at least one-half barrel.
    (b) The equipment and supplies must include--
    (1) Sorbents;
    (2) Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;
    (3) Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;
    (4) Emulsifiers for deck cleaning; and
    (5) Protective clothing
    (c) The equipment and supplies must be ready for immediate use 
during cargo transfer operations.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.225  Internal cargo transfer capability.

    Oil tankers and offshore oil barges must carry suitable hoses and 
reducers for internal transfer of cargo to tanks or other spaces within 
the cargo block, unless the vessel's installed cargo piping system is 
capable of performing this function.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.230  Emergency control systems for tank barges.

    (a) Application. This section does not apply to foreign vessels 
engaged in innocent passage (that is, neither entering nor leaving a 
U.S. port); it applies

[[Page 393]]

to tank barges and vessels towing them on the following waters:
    (1) On the territorial sea of the U.S. [as defined in Presidential 
Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988, it is the belt of waters 12 
nautical miles wide with its shoreward boundary the baseline of the 
territorial sea], unless--
    (i) The barge is being pushed ahead of, or towed alongside, the 
towing vessel; and
    (ii) The barge's coastwise route is restricted, on its certificate 
of inspection (COI), so the barge may operate ``in fair weather only, 
within 20 miles of shore,'' or with words to that effect. The Officer in 
Charge, Marine Inspection, may define ``fair weather'' on the COI.
    (2) In Great Lakes service unless--
    (i) The barge is being pushed ahead of, or towed alongside, the 
towing vessel; and
    (ii) The barge's route is restricted, on its certificate of 
inspection (COI), so the barge may operate ``in fair weather only, 
within 5 miles of a harbor,'' or with words to that effect. The Officer 
in Charge, Marine Inspection, may define ``fair weather'' on the COI.
    (3) On Long Island Sound. For the purposes of this section, Long 
Island Sound comprises the waters between the baseline of the 
territorial sea on the eastern end (from Watch Hill Point, Rhode Island, 
to Montauk Point, Long Island) and a line drawn north and south from 
Premium Point, New York (about 40[deg]54.5[min] N, 73[deg]45.5[min] W), 
to Hewlett Point, Long Island (about 40[deg]50.5[min] N, 
73[deg]45.3[min] W), on the western end.
    (4) In the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
    (5) On the waters of Admiralty Inlet north of Marrowstone Point 
(approximately 48[deg]06[min] N, 122[deg]41[min] W).
    (b) Safety program. If you are the owner or operator of a single-
hull tank barge or of a vessel towing it, you must adequately man and 
equip either the barge or the vessel towing it so the crew can arrest 
the barge by employing Measure 1, described in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section. Moreover, the crew must be able to arrest or retrieve the barge 
by employing either Measure 2 or Measure 3, described in paragraphs 
(b)(2) and (3) of this section, respectively. If you are the owner or 
operator of a double-hull tank barge, you must adequately equip it and 
train its crew or, if it is unmanned, train the crew of the vessel 
towing it, so the crew can retrieve the barge by employing Measure 2 
described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (1) Measure 1. Each single-hull tank barge, whether manned or 
unmanned, must be equipped with an operable anchoring system that 
conforms to 46 CFR 32.15-15; except that, for barges operating only on 
the West Coast of the U.S., a system comprising heavy surge gear and 
bridle legs may serve instead of the anchoring system. Because these 
systems will also serve as emergency control systems, the owner or 
operator must ensure that they meet the following criteria:
    (i) Operation and performance. When the barge is underway--
    (A) The system is ready for immediate use;
    (B) No more than two crewmembers are needed to operate the system 
and anchor the barge or arrest its movement;
    (C) While preparing to anchor the barge or arrest its movement, the 
operator of the system should confer with the master or mate of the 
towing vessel regarding appropriate length of cable or chain to use; and
    (D) Each operator of the system should wear a safety belt or harness 
secured by a lanyard to a lifeline, drop line, or fixed structure such 
as a welded padeye, if the sea or the weather warrants this precaution. 
Each safety belt, harness, lanyard, lifeline, and drop line must meet 
the specifications of ANSI A10.14.
    (ii) Maintenance and inspections. The owner or operator of the 
system shall inspect it annually. The inspection must verify that the 
system is ready for immediate use, and must include a visual inspection 
of the equipment that comprises the system in accordance with the 
manufacturer's recommendations. The inspection must also verify that the 
system is being maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's 
recommendations. The inspection need not include actual demonstration of 
the operation of the equipment or system.

[[Page 394]]

    (iii) Training. On each manned barge, every crewmember must be 
thoroughly familiar with the operation of the system. On each vessel 
towing an unmanned barge, every deck crewmember must be thoroughly 
familiar with the operation of the system installed on the barge. If 
during the last 12 months the system was not used to anchor or arrest 
the movement of the barge, then a drill on the use of the system must be 
conducted within the next month. The drill need not involve actual 
deployment of the system. However, it must allow every participant to 
demonstrate the competencies (that is, the knowledge, skills, and 
abilities) needed to ensure that everyone assigned a duty in anchoring 
or arresting the movement of the barge is ready to do his or her duty.
    (2) Measure 2. If you are the owner or operator of a tank barge or a 
vessel towing it and this section applies to you by virtue of paragraph 
(a) of this section, you must have installed an emergency retrieval 
system or some other measure acceptable to the Coast Guard, as provided 
in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Any such system must meet the 
following criteria:
    (i) Design. The system must use an emergency towline with at least 
the same pulling strength as required of the primary towline. The 
emergency towline must be readily available on either the barge or the 
vessel towing it. The towing vessel must have on board equipment to 
regain control of the barge and continue towing (using the emergency 
towline), without having to place personnel on board the barge.
    (ii) Operation and performance. The system must use a stowage 
arrangement that ensures the readiness of the emergency towline and the 
availability of all retrieval equipment for immediate use in an 
emergency whenever the barge is being towed astern.
    (iii) Maintenance and inspection. The owner or operator of the 
system shall inspect it annually. The inspection must verify that the 
emergency retrieval system is ready for immediate use, and must include 
a visual inspection of the equipment that comprises the system in 
accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The inspection must 
also verify that the system is being maintained in accordance with the 
manufacturer's recommendations. The inspection need not include actual 
demonstration of the operation of the equipment or system. Details 
concerning maintenance of towlines appear in 33 CFR 164.74(a)(3) and 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 5-92. Our NVICs are 
available online at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/index.htm.
    (iv) Training. Barge-retrieval drills must take place annually, and 
not more than one month after a master or mate responsible for 
supervising barge retrieval begins employment on a vessel that tows tank 
barges.
    (A) Each drill must allow every participant to demonstrate the 
competencies (that is, the knowledge, skills, and abilities) needed to 
ensure that everyone assigned a duty in barge retrieval is ready to do 
his or her part to regain control of a drifting barge.
    (B) If the drill includes actual operation of a retrieval system, it 
must be conducted under the supervision of the master or mate 
responsible for retrieval, and preferably in open waters free from 
navigational hazards so as to minimize risk to personnel and the 
environment.
    (3) Measure 3. If you are the owner or operator of a tank barge or a 
vessel towing it and this section applies to you by virtue of paragraph 
(a) of this section, you may use an alternative measure or system fit 
for retrieving a barge or arresting its movement as a substitute for 
Measure 2, described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section. Before you use 
such a measure or system, however, it must receive the approval of the 
Commandant (G-MSE). It will receive this approval if it provides 
protection against grounding of the tank vessel comparable to that 
provided by one of the other two measures described in this section.

[USCG-1998-4443, 65 FR 31811, May 19, 2000]



Sec. 155.235  Emergency towing capability for oil tankers.

    An emergency towing arrangement shall be fitted at both ends on 
board all oil tankers of not less than 20,000 deadweight tons (dwt), 
constructed on or after September 30, 1997. For oil tankers constructed 
before September 30,

[[Page 395]]

1997, such an arrangement shall be fitted at the first scheduled dry-
docking, but not later than January 1, 1999. The design and construction 
of the towing arrangement shall be in accordance with IMO resolution 
MSC.35(63).

[CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 1997]



Sec. 155.240  Damage stability information for oil tankers and offshore 
oil barges.

    (a) Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges shall 
ensure that their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to 
computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural 
strength calculation programs.
    (b) Vessel baseline strength and stability characteristics must be 
pre-entered into such programs and be consistent with the vessel's 
existing configuration.
    (c) Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 
24 hours a day.
    (d) At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of the 
following:
    (1) Residual hull girder strength based on the reported extent of 
damage.
    (2) Residual stability when the vessel's compartments are breached.
    (3) The most favorable off-loading, ballasting, or cargo transfer 
sequences to improve residual stability, reduce hull girder stresses, 
and reduce ground-force reaction.
    (4) The bending and shear stresses caused by pinnacle loads from 
grounding or stranding.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67996, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.245  Damage stability information for inland oil barges.

    (a) Owners or operators of inland oil barges shall ensure that the 
vessel plans necessary to perform salvage, stability, and residual hull 
strength assessments are maintained at a shore-based location.
    (b) Access to the plans must be available 24 hours a day.

[CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67997, Dec. 22, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.310  Containment of oil and hazardous material cargo discharges.

    (a) A tank vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels that is 
carrying oil or hazardous material as cargo must have--
    (1) Under or around each loading manifold and each transfer 
connection point, a fixed container or enclosed deck area that, in all 
conditions of ship list or trim encountered during the loading 
operation, has a capacity of at least:
    (i) One half barrel if it serves one or more hoses with an inside 
diameter of 2 inches or less, or one or more loading arms with a nominal 
pipe size diameter of 2 inches or less;
    (ii) One barrel if it serves one or more hoses with an inside 
diameter of more than 2 inches but less than 4 inches, or one or more 
loading arms with a nominal pipe size diameter of more than 2 inches but 
less than 4 inches;
    (iii) Two barrels if it serves one or more hoses with an inside 
diameter of 4 inches or more, but less than 6 inches, or one or more 
loading arms with a nominal pipe size diameter of 4 inches or more, but 
less than 6 inches;
    (iv) Three barrels if it serves one or more hoses with an inside 
diameter of 6 inches or more, but less than 12 inches, or one or more 
loading arms with a nominal pipe size diameter of 6 inches or more, but 
less than 12 inches; or
    (v) Four barrels if it serves one or more hoses with an inside 
diameter of 12 inches or more, or one or more loading arms with a 
nominal pipe size diameter of 12 inches or more;
    (2) A means of draining or removing discharged oil or hazardous 
material from each container or enclosed deck area without discharging 
the oil or hazardous material into the water; and
    (3) A mechanical means of closing each drain and scupper in the 
container or enclosed deck area required by this section.
    (b) An offshore tank barge with a cargo capacity of 250 or more 
barrels that is carrying hazardous material as cargo and an inland tank 
barge with the capacity of 250 or more barrels that is carrying oil or a 
hazardous material as cargo must meet paragraph (a) of this section or 
be equipped with--

[[Page 396]]

    (1) A coaming, at least 4 inches high but not more than 8 inches 
high, enclosing the immediate area of the cargo hatches, loading 
manifolds, and transfer connections, that has a capacity, in all 
conditions of vessel list and trim to be encountered during the loading 
operation, of at least one-half barrel per hatch, manifold, and 
connection within the enclosed area;
    (2) A fixed or portable container under each loading manifold and 
each transfer connection within the coaming, that holds at least one-
half barrel;
    (3) A mechanical means of closing each drain and scupper within the 
coaming; and
    (4) A means of draining or removing discharged oil or hazardous 
material from the fixed or portable container and from within the 
coamings without discharging the oil or hazardous material into the 
water.
    (c) All oil tankers and offshore oil barges with a cargo capacity of 
250 or more barrels must have peripheral coamings, including port and 
starboard coamings and forward and aft athwartships coamings, completely 
enclosing the cargo deck area, cargo hatches, manifolds, transfer 
connections, and any other openings where cargo may overflow or leak.
    (1) Coamings must be at least 4 inches high except in the aft 
corners.
    (2) In the aft corners (port and starboard) of a vessel, the 
coamings must be at least 8 inches high and extend--
    (i) Forward at least 14 feet from each corner; and
    (ii) Inboard at least 8 feet from each corner.
    (3) Each area enclosed by the coaming required under this paragraph 
must have--
    (i) A means of draining or removing oil from the enclosed deck area 
without discharging oil into the water; and
    (ii) A mechanical means of closing each drain and scupper in the 
enclosed deck-area.
    (4) For a tankship, as defined in 46 CFR 30.10-67, the coaming or 
other barrier required in 46 CFR 32.56-15 may serve as the aft 
athwartships coaming if the tankship is otherwise in compliance with the 
requirements of this section.
    (d) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this section, an offshore oil barge with a cargo capacity of 250 or more 
barrels must have--
    (1) A fixed or portable container that holds at least one-half 
barrel under each oil loading manifold and each oil transfer connection 
within the coaming;
    (2) A mechanical means of closing each drain and scupper within the 
coaming; and
    (3) A means of draining or removing discharged oil from the fixed or 
portable container and from within the coaming without discharging the 
oil into the water.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36254, Sept. 4, 1990; CGD 90-068, 58 FR 67997, Dec. 22, 1993; USCG-1998-
3799, 63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.320  Fuel oil and bulk lubricating oil discharge containment.

    (a) A ship of 300 gross tons or more constructed after June 30, 1974 
must have a fixed container or enclosed deck area under or around each 
fuel oil or bulk lubricating oil tank vent, overflow, and fill pipe, 
that:
    (1) For a ship of 300 or more but less than 1600 gross tons has a 
capacity of at least one-half barrel; and
    (2) For a ship of 1600 or more gross tons has a capacity of one 
barrel.
    (b) A ship of 100 gross tons or more constructed before July 1, 
1974, and a ship of 100 or more but less than 300 gross tons constructed 
after June 30, 1974 must:
    (1) Meet paragraph (a)(1) of this section; or
    (2) Equip each fuel oil or bulk lubricating oil tank vent, overflow, 
and fill pipe during oil transfer operations with a portable container 
of at least a 5 U.S. gallon capacity; or
    (3) If the ship has a fill fitting for which containment is 
impractical, use an automatic back pressure shut-off nozzle.
    (c) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform.

[[Page 397]]



Sec. 155.330  Oily mixture (bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 
discharges on U.S. non-oceangoing ships.

    (a) No person may operate a U.S. non-oceangoing ship in the 
navigable waters of the United States, unless it has the capacity to 
retain on board all oily mixtures and is equipped to discharge these 
oily mixtures to a reception facility.
    (b) A U.S. non-oceangoing ship may retain all oily mixtures on board 
in the ship's bilges. An oil residue (sludge) tank is not required.
    (c) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 
66 FR 55571, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.350  Oily mixture (Bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 
discharges on oceangoing ships of less than 400 gross tons.

    (a) No person may operate an oceangoing ship of less than 400 gross 
tons, unless it either:
    (1) Has the capacity to retain on board all oily mixtures and is 
equipped to discharge these oily mixtures to a reception facility; or
    (2) Has approved oily-water separating equipment for processing oily 
mixtures from bilges or fuel oil tank ballast and discharges into the 
sea according to Sec. 151.10 of this chapter.
    (b) An oceangoing ship of less than 400 gross tons may retain all 
oily mixtures on board in the ship's bilges. An oil residue (sludge) 
tank is not required.
    (c) This section does not apply to a barge that is not equipped with 
an installed bilge pumping system for discharge into the sea.
    (d) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-002, 54 FR 
18407, Apr. 28, 1989; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33364, June 19, 1997; USCG-1998-
3799, 63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998; USCG-2000-7641, 66 FR 55571, Nov. 2, 
2001]



Sec. 155.360  Oily Mixture (Bilge slops) discharges on oceangoing 

ships of 400 gross tons and above but less than 10,000 gross tons, 
excluding ships that carry 
          ballast water in their fuel oil tanks.

    (a) No person may operate an oceangoing ship of 400 gross tons and 
above but less than 10,000 gross tons, excluding a ship that carries 
ballast water in its fuel oil tanks, unless it is fitted with approved 
15 parts per million (ppm) oily-water separating equipment for the 
processing of oily mixtures from bilges or fuel oil tank ballast.
    (b) No person may operate a ship under this section unless it is 
fitted with a tank or tanks of adequate capacity to receive the oil 
residue that cannot be dealt with otherwise.
    (1) In new ships such tanks shall be designed and constructed to 
facilitate cleaning and the discharge of the oily residues to reception 
facilities. Existing ships shall comply with this requirement as far as 
reasonable and practicable.
    (2) Tanks used for oily mixtures on ships certificated under 46 CFR 
Chapter I shall meet the requirements of 46 CFR 56.50-50(h) for 
isolation between oil and bilge systems.
    (c) No person may operate a ship unless it is equipped with a 
pipeline to discharge oily mixtures to a reception facility.
    (d) This section does not apply to a barge that is not equipped with 
an installed bilge pumping system for discharge into the sea.
    (e) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform, except as specified in Sec. 155.400(a)(2).

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998; USCG-2000-7641, 66 FR 55571, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.370  Oily mixture (bilge slops)/fuel oil tank ballast water 

discharges on oceangoing ships of 10,000 gross tons and above and 
oceangoing ships of 400 
          gross tons and above that carry ballast water in their fuel 
          oil tanks.

    (a) No person may operate an oceangoing ship of 10,000 gross tons 
and above, or any oceangoing ship of 400

[[Page 398]]

gross tons and above, that carries ballast water in its fuel oil tanks, 
unless it has--
    (1) Approved 15 ppm oily-water separating equipment for the 
processing of oily mixtures from bilges or fuel oil tank ballast;
    (2) A bilge alarm; and
    (3) A means for automatically stopping any discharge of oily mixture 
when the oil content in the effluent exceeds 15 ppm.
    (b) No person may operate a ship under this section unless it is 
fitted with a tank or tanks of adequate capacity to receive the oil 
residue that cannot be dealt with otherwise.
    (1) In new ships such tanks shall be designed and constructed to 
facilitate cleaning and the discharge of the oil residue to reception 
facilities. Existing ships shall comply with this requirement as far as 
reasonable and practicable.
    (2) Tanks used for oily mixtures on ships certificated under 46 CFR 
Chapter I shall meet the requirements of 46 CFR 56.50-50(h) for 
isolation between oil and bilge systems.
    (c) No person may operate a ship under this section unless it is 
equipped with a pipeline to discharge oily mixtures to a reception 
facility.
    (d) This section does not apply to a barge that is not equipped with 
an installed bilge pumping system for discharge into the sea.
    (e) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform, except as specified in Sec. 155.400(a)(2).

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
2115-0025)

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-1998-3799, 
63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998; USCG-2000-7641, 66 FR 55571, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.380  Oily-water separating equipment, bilge alarm, and bilge 
monitor approval standards.

    (a) On U.S. inspected ships, oily-water separating equipment, bilge 
alarms, and bilge monitors must be approved under 46 CFR 162.050.
    (b) On U.S. uninspected ships and foreign ships, oily-water 
separating equipment, bilge alarms, and bilge monitors must be approved 
under 46 CFR 162.050 or be listed in the current International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 
Circular summary of MARPOL 73/78 approved equipment.
    (c) A ship that is required to have a bilge alarm may have a bilge 
monitor installed in its place.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 
66 FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.400  Platform machinery space drainage on oceangoing fixed 
and floating drilling rigs and other platforms.

    (a) No person may operate an oceangoing fixed or floating drilling 
rig or other platform unless it either--
    (1) Complies with the oily-water separating equipment requirements 
of a valid National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
permit issued in accordance with section 402 of the Clean Water Act and 
40 CFR Chapter I;
    (2) Complies with the oily-water separating equipment requirements 
for oceangoing ships of 400 gross tons and above as set forth in either 
Sec. 155.360 or Sec. 155.370; or
    (3) Is not equipped with an installed bilge pumping system for 
discharge of oily mixtures from platform machinery spaces into the sea 
and has the capacity to retain on board all of these oily mixtures and 
is equipped to discharge these mixtures for transport to a reception 
facility.
    (b) When an oceangoing fixed or floating drilling rig or other 
platform is in a special area, is not proceeding en route, or is within 
12 nautical miles of the nearest land; it must either--
    (1) Have the capacity to retain on board all machinery space oily 
mixtures from platform machinery space drainage and be equipped to 
discharge these mixtures for transport to a reception facility; or
    (2) Discharge in accordance with Sec. 151.10 (b)(3), (b)(4), and 
(b)(5) of this chapter, provided the drilling rig or platform is not 
within a special area.
    (c) Paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a fixed or 
floating drilling

[[Page 399]]

rig or other platform that is operating under an NPDES permit.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-002, 54 FR 
18407, Apr. 28, 1989; CGD 94-056, 60 FR 43378, Aug. 21, 1995; USCG-1998-
3799, 63 FR 35531, June 30, 1998]



Sec. 155.410  Pumping, piping and discharge requirements for 
non-oceangoing ships of 100 gross tons and above.

    (a) No person may operate a non-oceangoing ship of 100 gross tons 
and above that is fitted with main or auxiliary machinery spaces in the 
navigable waters of the United States unless:
    (1) The ship has at least one pump installed to discharge oily 
mixtures through a fixed piping system to a reception facility;
    (2) The piping system required by this section has at least one 
outlet that is accessible from the weather deck;
    (3) Each outlet required by this section has a shore connection that 
is compatible with reception facilities in the ship's area of operation; 
and
    (4) The ship has a stop valve for each outlet required by this 
section.
    (b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to a ship that has 
approved oily-water separating equipment for the processing of oily 
mixtures from bilges or fuel oil tank ballast.
    (c) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 
66 FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.420  Pumping, piping and discharge requirements for oceangoing 
ships of 100 gross tons and above but less than 400 gross tons.

    (a) No person may operate an oceangoing ship of 100 gross tons and 
above but less than 400 gross tons that is fitted with main or auxiliary 
machinery spaces unless:
    (1) The ship has at least one pump installed to discharge oily 
mixtures through a fixed piping system to a reception facility;
    (2) The piping system required by this section has at least one 
outlet accessible from the weather deck;
    (3) For a ship on an international voyage, the outlet required by 
this section has a shore connection that meets the specifications in 
Sec. 155.430, or the ship has at least one adapter that meets the 
specifications in Sec. 155.430 and fits the required outlets;
    (4) For a ship not on an international voyage, the outlet required 
by this section has a shore connection that is compatible with reception 
facilities in the ship's area of operation;
    (5) The ship has a means on the weather deck near the discharge 
outlet to stop each pump that is used to discharge oily mixtures; and
    (6) The ship has a stop valve installed for each outlet required by 
this section.
    (b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to a ship that has 
approved oily-water separating equipment for the processing of oily 
mixtures from bilges or fuel oil tank ballast.
    (c) This section does not apply to a fixed or floating drilling rig 
or other platform.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 
66 FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.430  Standard discharge connections for oceangoing ships of 
400 gross tons and above.

    (a) All oceangoing ships of 400 gross tons and above must have a 
standard shore connection for reception facilities to discharge oily 
mixtures from machinery space bilges or ballast water containing an oily 
mixture from fuel oil tanks. The discharge connection must have the 
following dimensions:
    (1) Outside diameter=215 millimeters (mm).
    (2) Inner diameter=according to pipe outside diameter.
    (3) Bolt circle diameter=183 mm.
    (4) Slots in flange=6 holes 22 mm in diameter equidistantly placed 
on a bolt circle of the above diameter, slotted to the flange periphery. 
The slot width to be 22 mm.
    (5) Flange thickness=20 mm.
    (6) Bolts and nuts, quantity and number=6 each of 20 mm in diameter 
and of suitable length.
    (b) A portable adapter that meets the specifications of paragraph 
(a) of this section and that fits the discharge

[[Page 400]]

shore connection, for the discharge of oily wastes from machinery space 
bilges may be substituted for the standard discharge connection 
requirement of paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) The flange must be designed to accept pipes up to a maximum 
internal diameter of 125 mm and shall be of steel or other equivalent 
material having a flat face. This flange, together with a gasket of 
oilproof material, must be suitable for a service pressure of 6 
kilograms/square centimeters (kg/cm\2\).

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 
66 FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.440  Segregation of fuel oil and ballast water on new oceangoing 

ships of 4,000 gross tons and above, other than oil tankers, and on new 
oceangoing 
          oil tankers of 150 gross tons and above.

    (a) Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, in new 
oceangoing ships of 4,000 gross tons and above other than oil tankers, 
and in new oceangoing oil tankers of 150 gross tons and above, ballast 
water must not be carried in any fuel oil tank.
    (b) Where abnormal conditions or the need to carry large quantities 
of fuel oil render it necessary to carry ballast water that is not a 
clean ballast in any fuel oil tank, that ballast water must be 
discharged to reception facilities or into the sea in compliance with 
Part 151 of this chapter using the equipment specified in Sec. 155.370, 
and an entry shall be made in the Oil Record Book to this effect.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
2115-0025)



Sec. 155.450  Placard.

    (a) A ship, except a ship of less than 26 feet in length, must have 
a placard of at least 5 by 8 inches, made of durable material fixed in a 
conspicuous place in each machinery space, or at the bilge and ballast 
pump control station, stating the following:

                       Discharge of Oil Prohibited

    The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of 
oil or oily waste into or upon the navigable waters of the United 
States, or the waters of the contiguous zone, or which may affect 
natural resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive 
management authority of the United States, if such discharge causes a 
film or discoloration of the surface of the water or causes a sludge or 
emulsion beneath the surface of the water. Violators are subject to 
substantial civil penalties and/or criminal sanctions including fines 
and imprisonment.

    (b) Existing stocks of placards may be used for the life of the 
placard.
    (c) The placard required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this section 
must be printed in the language or languages understood by the crew.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 93-054, 58 FR 
62262, Nov. 26, 1993]



Sec. 155.470  Prohibited spaces.

    (a) In a ship of 400 gross tons and above, for which the building 
contract is placed after January 1, 1982 or, in the absence of a 
building contract, the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar 
stage of construction after July 1, 1982, oil or hazardous material must 
not be carried in a forepeak tank or a tank forward of the collision 
bulkhead.
    (b) A self-propelled ship of 300 gross tons and above, to which 
paragraph (a) of this section does not apply, may not carry bulk oil or 
hazardous material in any space forward of a collision bulkhead except:
    (1) For a ship constructed after June 30, 1974, fuel oil for use on 
the ship may be carried in tanks forward of a collision bulkhead, if 
such tanks are at least 24 inches inboard of the hull structure; or
    (2) For a ship constructed before July 1, 1974, fuel oil for use on 
the ship may be carried in tanks forward of a collision bulkhead, if 
such tanks were designated, installed, or constructed for fuel oil 
carriage before July 1, 1974.

[CGD 75-124a, 48 FR 45715, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36254, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.480  Overfill devices.

    (a) For the purposes of this section, ``oil'' has the same 
definition as provided in Sec. 151.05 of this chapter.
    (b) Each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic 
meters (approximately 6,290 barrels), loading oil or oil residue as 
cargo, must have

[[Page 401]]

one overfill device that is permanently installed on each cargo tank and 
meets the requirements of this section.
    (1) On a tankship, each cargo tank must be equipped with an overfill 
device (including an independent audible alarm or visible indicator for 
that tank) that meets the requirements for tank overfill alarms under 46 
CFR 39.20-7(b)(2) and (3), and (d)(1) through (d)(4).
    (2) On a tank barge, each cargo tank must be equipped with an 
overfill device that--
    (i) Meets the requirements of 46 CFR 39.20-7(b)(2) and (b)(3) and 
(d)(1) through (d)(4), and 46 CFR 39.20-9(a)(1) through (a)(3);
    (ii) Is an installed automatic shutdown system that meets the 
requirements of 46 CFR 39.20-9(b); or
    (iii) Is an installed high level indicating device that meets the 
requirements of 46 CFR 39.20-3(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3).
    (c) Each cargo tank of a U.S. flag tank vessel must have installed 
on it an overfill device meeting the requirements of this section at the 
next scheduled cargo tank internal examination performed on the vessel 
under 46 CFR 31.10-21.
    (d) Each cargo tank of a foreign flag tank vessel must have 
installed on it an overfill device--
    (1) At the first survey that includes dry docking, as required by 
the vessel's flag administration, to meet the International Convention 
for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, or the 
International Load Line Convention of 1966; or
    (2) At the first cargo tank internal examination performed on the 
tank vessel under 46 CFR 31.10-21.
    (e) This section does not apply to a tank vessel that does not meet 
the double hull requirements of Sec. 157.10d of this chapter and, under 
46 U.S.C. 3703a(c), may not operate in the navigable waters or Exclusive 
Economic Zone of the United States after January 1, 2000.
    (f) This section does not apply to tank vessels that carry asphalt, 
animal fat, or vegetable oil as their only cargo.

[CGD 90-071a, 59 FR 53290, Oct. 21, 1994, as amended by CGD 90-071a, 62 
FR 48773, Sept. 17, 1997]



Sec. 155.490  Tank level or pressure monitoring devices.

    (a) Applicability. The tank level or pressure monitoring (TLPM) 
device requirements of this section apply to--
    (1) U.S.-flag single-hull tank vessels carrying oil or oil residue 
as cargo; and
    (2) Foreign-flag single-hull tank vessels carrying oil or oil 
residue as cargo when operating in the navigable waters of the United 
States and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) when bound to or from a 
port or place in the United States.
    (b) By October 17, 2007, each vessel required under paragraph (a) of 
this section to meet the requirements of this section, must have a tank 
level or pressure monitoring device that is permanently installed on 
each cargo tank and meets the requirements of this section.
    (c) Each device must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Be intrinsically safe as per 46 CFR 111.105;
    (2) Indicate any loss of power or failure of the tank level or 
pressure monitoring device and monitor the condition of the alarm 
circuitry and sensor by an electronic self-testing feature;
    (3) Alarm at or before the cargo in the cargo tank either increases 
or decreases by a level of one percent from the cargo quantity in the 
tank after securing cargo transfer operations;
    (4) Operate in conditions up to sea state 5, moisture, and varying 
weather conditions; and
    (5) Have audible and visual alarm indicators which are distinctly 
identifiable as cargo tank level or pressure monitoring alarms that can 
be seen and heard on the navigation bridge of the tank ship or towing 
vessel and on the cargo deck area.
    (d) Double-hull tank vessels are exempt from the requirements of 
this section.
    (e) This section does not apply to tank vessels that carry asphalt 
as their only cargo.

[USCG-2001-9046, 67 FR 58524, Sept. 17, 2002]

[[Page 402]]



    Subpart C_Transfer Personnel, Procedures, Equipment, and Records



Sec. 155.700  Designation of person in charge.

    Each operator or agent of a vessel with a capacity of 250 or more 
barrels of fuel oil, cargo oil, hazardous material, or liquefied gas as 
regulated in Table 4 of 46 CFR part 154, or each person who arranges for 
and hires a person to be in charge of a transfer of fuel oil, of a 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning, shall 
designate, either by name or by position in the crew, the person in 
charge (PIC) of each transfer to or from the vessel and of each tank-
cleaning.

[CGD 79-116, 62 FR 25126, May 8, 1997]



Sec. 155.710  Qualifications of person in charge.

    (a) On each tankship required to be documented under the laws of the 
United States, the operator or agent of the vessel, or the person who 
arranges and hires a person to be in charge either of a transfer of 
liquid cargo in bulk or of cargo-tank cleaning, shall verify to his or 
her satisfaction that each person designated as a PIC--
    (1) Has sufficient training and experience with the relevant 
characteristics of the vessel on which he or she is engaged--including 
the cargo for transfer, the cargo-containment system, the cargo system 
(including transfer procedures, and shipboard-emergency equipment and 
procedures), the control and monitoring systems, the procedures for 
reporting pollution incidents, and, if installed, the Crude-Oil Washing 
(COW), inert-gas, and vapor-control systems--to safely conduct a 
transfer of fuel oil, a transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or cargo-tank 
cleaning;
    (2) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, holds a 
license issued under 46 CFR part 10 authorizing service aboard a vessel 
certified for voyages beyond any Boundary Line described in 46 CFR part 
7, except on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels not certified for 
voyages beyond the Boundary Line; and
    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section and 46 CFR 
13.113 (a) or (c), holds a Tankerman-PIC endorsement issued under 46 CFR 
part 13 that authorizes the holder to supervise the transfer of fuel 
oil, the transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or cargo-tank cleaning, as 
appropriate to the product.
    (b) On each tank barge required to be inspected under 46 U.S.C. 
3703, the operator or agent of the vessel, or the person who arranges 
and hires a person to be in charge of a transfer of fuel oil, of a 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning, shall 
verify to his or her satisfaction that each PIC--
    (1) Has sufficient training and experience with the relevant 
characteristics of the vessel on which he or she is engaged--including 
the cargo for transfer, the cargo-containment system, the cargo system 
(including transfer procedures, and shipboard-emergency equipment and 
procedures), the control and monitoring systems, the procedures for 
reporting pollution incidents, and, if installed, the COW, inert-gas, 
and vapor-control systems--to safely conduct either a transfer of liquid 
cargo in bulk or cargo-tank cleaning; and
    (2) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section and 46 CFR 
part 13.113 (a) or (c), holds a Tankerman-PIC or Tankerman-PIC (Barge) 
endorsement issued under 46 CFR part 13 that authorizes the holder to 
supervise the transfer of fuel oil, the transfer of liquid cargo in 
bulk, or cargo-tank cleaning, as appropriate to the product and vessel.
    (c) On each foreign tankship, the operator or agent of the vessel 
shall verify to his or her satisfaction that each PIC either of a 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk or of cargo-tank cleaning--
    (1) Has sufficient training and experience with the relevant 
characteristics of the vessel on which he or she is engaged, including 
the cargo for transfer, the cargo-containment system, the cargo system 
(including transfer procedures, and shipboard-emergency equipment and 
procedures), the control and monitoring systems, the procedures for 
reporting pollution incidents, and, if installed, the systems for crude-
oil washing, inert gas, and vapor control, to safely conduct either a 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk or cargo-tank cleaning;

[[Page 403]]

    (2) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, holds a 
license or other document issued by the flag state or its authorized 
agent authorizing service as master, mate, pilot, engineer, or operator 
on that vessel;
    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, holds a 
Dangerous-Cargo Endorsement or Certificate issued by a flag state party 
to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification 
and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), or other form of evidence 
acceptable to the Coast Guard, attesting the PIC's meeting the 
requirements of Chapter V of STCW as a PIC of the transfer of fuel oil, 
of the transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning;
    (4) Is capable of reading, speaking, and understanding in English, 
or a language mutually-agreed-upon with the shoreside PIC of the 
transfer, all instructions needed to commence, conduct, and complete a 
transfer of fuel oil, a transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or cargo-tank 
cleaning, except that the use of an interpreter meets this requirement 
if the interpreter--
    (i) Fluently speaks the language spoken by each PIC;
    (ii) Is immediately available to the PIC on the tankship at all 
times during the transfer or cargo-tank cleaning; and
    (iii) Is knowledgeable about, and conversant with terminology of, 
ships, transfers, and cargo-tank cleaning; and
    (5) Is capable of effectively communicating with all crewmembers 
involved in the transfer or cargo-tank cleaning, with or without an 
interpreter.
    (d) On each foreign tank barge, the operator or agent of the vessel 
shall verify to his or her satisfaction that each PIC either of the 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk or of cargo-tank cleaning--
    (1) Has sufficient training and experience with the relevant 
characteristics of the vessel on which he or she is engaged--including 
the cargo for transfer, the cargo-containment system, the cargo system 
(including transfer procedures, and shipboard-emergency equipment and 
procedures), the control and monitoring systems, the procedures for 
reporting pollution incidents, and, if installed, the COW, inert-gas, 
and vapor-control systems--to safely conduct a transfer of fuel oil, a 
transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or cargo-tank cleaning;
    (2) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, holds a 
Dangerous-Cargo Endorsement or Certificate issued by a flag state party 
to STCW, or other form of evidence acceptable to the Coast Guard, 
attesting the PIC's meeting the requirements of Chapter V of STCW as a 
PIC of the transfer of fuel oil, of the transfer of liquid cargo in 
bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning;
    (3) Is capable of reading, speaking, and understanding in English, 
or a language mutually-agreed-upon with the shoreside PIC of the 
transfer, all instructions needed to commence, conduct, and complete a 
transfer of fuel oil, a transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or cargo-tank 
cleaning, except that the use of an interpreter meets this requirement 
if the interpreter--
    (i) Fluently speaks the language spoken by each PIC;
    (ii) Is immediately available to the PIC on the tankship at all 
times during the transfer or cargo-tank cleaning; and
    (iii) Is knowledgeable about, and conversant with terminology of, 
ships, transfers, and cargo-tank cleaning; and
    (4) Is capable of effectively communicating with all crewmembers 
involved in the transfer or cargo-tank cleaning, with or without an 
interpreter.
    (e) The operator or agent of each vessel to which this section 
applies shall verify to his or her satisfaction that the PIC of any 
transfer of fuel oil requiring a Declaration of Inspection--
    (1) On each inspected vessel required by 46 CFR chapter I to have a 
licensed person aboard, holds a valid license issued under 46 CFR part 
10 authorizing service as a master, mate, pilot, engineer, or operator 
aboard that vessel, or holds a valid merchant mariner's document 
endorsed as Tankerman-PIC;
    (2) On each uninspected vessel, either complies with the 
requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section or carries a letter 
satisfying the requirements of Sec. 155.715 and designating him

[[Page 404]]

or her as a PIC, unless equivalent evidence is immediately available 
aboard the vessel or at his or her place of employment.
    (3) On each tank barge, for its own engine-driven pumps, either 
complies with paragraph (e)(1) or (2) of this section or has been 
instructed by the operator or agent of the vessel both in his or her 
duties and in the Federal statutes and regulations on water pollution 
that apply to the vessel; or
    (4) On each foreign vessel, holds a license or certificate issued by 
a flag state party to STCW, or other form of evidence acceptable to the 
Coast Guard, attesting the qualifications of the PIC to act as master, 
mate, pilot, operator, engineer, or tankerman aboard that vessel.
    (f) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, the 
operator or agent of each self-propelled tank vessel carrying oil or 
hazardous material in bulk shall verify to his or her satisfaction that 
the PIC of the transfer of oil or hazardous material in bulk to or from 
a vessel, or of cargo-tank cleaning, holds a Tankerman-PIC endorsement 
on his or her MMD and either a license or a Certificate issued by a flag 
state party to STCW authorizing service as a master, mate, pilot, 
engineer, or operator aboard that vessel.
    (g) The PIC of a cargo-tank cleaning on a vessel at a tank-cleaning 
facility or shipyard need not hold any of the licenses, documents, 
certificates, or endorsements required in paragraphs (a) through (f) of 
this section, if he or she is a National Fire Protection Association 
Certificated Marine Chemist.

[CGD 79-116, 60 FR 17141, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79-116, 61 FR 
25126, May 8, 1997; CGD 79-116, 63 FR 35826, July 1, 1998]



Sec. 155.715  Contents of letter of designation as a person-in-charge 
of the transfer of fuel oil.

    The letter of instruction required in Sec. 155.710(e)(2) must 
designate the holder as a person-in-charge of the transfer of fuel oil 
and state that the holder has received sufficient formal instruction 
from the operator or agent of the vessel to ensure his or her ability to 
safely and adequately carry out the duties and responsibilities of the 
PIC described in 33 CFR 156.120 and 156.150.

[CGD 79-116, 63 FR 35826, July 1, 1998]



Sec. 155.720  Transfer procedures.

    The operator of a vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels of 
oil, hazardous material, or liquefied gas as regulated in Table 4 of 46 
CFR part 154 shall provide transfer procedures that meet the 
requirements of this part and part 156 of this chapter for 
transferring--
    (a) To or from the vessel; and
    (b) From tank to tank within the vessel.

[CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36254, Sept. 4, 1990, as amended by CGD 79-116, 62 FR 
25127, May 8, 1997]



Sec. 155.730  Compliance with transfer procedures.

    The vessel operator of each vessel required by Sec. 155.720 to have 
transfer procedures shall maintain them current and shall require vessel 
personnel to use the transfer procedures for each transfer operation.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36254, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.740  Availability of transfer procedures.

    The transfer procedures required by Sec. 155.720 must be:
    (a) Available for inspection by the COTP or OCMI whenever the vessel 
is in operation;
    (b) Legibly printed in a language or languages understood by 
personnel engaged in transfer operations; and
    (c) Permanently posted or available at a place where the procedures 
can be easily seen and used by members of the crew when engaged in 
transfer operations.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36254, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.750  Contents of transfer procedures.

    (a) The transfer procedures required by Sec. 155.720 must contain, 
either in the order listed or by use of a cross-reference index page:

[[Page 405]]

    (1) A list of each product transferred to or from the vessel, 
including the following information:
    (i) Generic or chemical name;
    (ii) Cargo information as described in Sec. 154.310(a)(5)(ii) of 
this chapter; and
    (iii) Applicability of transfer procedures;
    (2) A description of each transfer system on the vessel including:
    (i) A line diagram of the vessel's transfer piping, including the 
location of each valve, pump, control device, vent, and overflow;
    (ii) The location of the shutoff valve or other isolation device 
that separates any bilge or ballast system from the transfer system; and
    (iii) A description of and procedures for emptying the discharge 
containment system required by Sec. Sec. 155.310 and 155.320;
    (3) The number of persons required to be on duty during transfer 
operations;
    (4) The duties by title of each officer, person in charge, 
tankerman, deckhand, and any other person required for each transfer 
operation;
    (5) Procedures and duty assignments for tending the vessel's 
moorings during the transfer of oil or hazardous material;
    (6) Procedures for operating the emergency shutdown and 
communications means required by Sec. Sec. 155.780 and 155.785, 
respectively;
    (7) Procedures for topping off tanks;
    (8) Procedures for ensuring that all valves used during the transfer 
operations are closed upon completion of transfer;
    (9) Procedures for reporting discharges of oil or hazardous material 
into the water; and
    (10) Procedures for closing and opening the vessel openings in Sec. 
155.815.
    (11) Statements explaining that each hazardous materials transfer 
hose is marked with either the name of each product which may be 
transferred through the hose or with letters, numbers or other symbols 
representing all such products and the location in the transfer 
procedures where a chart or list of the symbols used and a list of the 
compatible products which may be transferred through the hose can be 
found for consultation before each transfer.
    (b) Exemptions or alternatives granted must be placed in the front 
of the transfer procedures.
    (c) The vessel operator shall incorporate each amendment to the 
transfer procedures under Sec. 155.760 in the procedures with the 
related existing requirement, or at the end of the procedures if not 
related to an existing requirement.
    (d) If a vessel is fitted with a vapor control system, the transfer 
procedures must contain a description of the vapor collection system on 
the vessel which includes:
    (1) A line diagram of the vessel's vapor collection system piping, 
including the location of each valve, control device, pressure-vacuum 
relief valve, pressure indicator, flame arresters, and detonation 
arresters, if fitted;
    (2) The location of spill valves and rupture disks, if fitted;
    (3) The maximum allowable transfer rate determined in accordance 
with 46 CFR 39.30-1(d) (1) through (d)(3);
    (4) The initial transfer rate for each tank that complies with 46 
CFR 39.30-1(h);
    (5) A table or graph of transfer rates and corresponding vapor 
collection system pressure drops calculated in accordance with 46 CFR 
39.30-1(b);
    (6) The relief settings of each spill valve, rupture disk, and 
pressure-vacuum relief valve; and
    (7) A description of and procedures for operating the vapor 
collection system, including the:
    (i) Pre-transfer equipment inspection requirements;
    (ii) Vapor line connection;
    (iii) Closed gauging system;
    (iv) High level alarm system, if fitted; and
    (v) Independent automatic shutdown system, if fitted.
    (e) If a cargo tank of a tank vessel is fitted with an overfill 
device, the transfer procedures must contain a description of the 
overfill device, including:
    (1) The tank overfill device system and specific procedures for the 
person in charge to--
    (i) Monitor the level of cargo in the tank; and
    (ii) Shut down transfer operations in time to ensure that the cargo 
level in

[[Page 406]]

each tank does not exceed the maximum amount permitted by Sec. 
155.775(b).
    (2) Pre-transfer overfill device equipment inspection and test 
requirements.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
2115-0120)

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 88-102, 55 FR 
25445, June 21, 1990; CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36254, Sept. 4, 1990; CGD 92-
027, 58 FR 39662, July 26, 1993; CGD 90-071a, 59 FR 53291, Oct. 21, 
1994]



Sec. 155.760  Amendment of transfer procedures.

    (a) The COTP or OCMI may require the vessel operator of any vessel 
that is required to have transfer procedures under Sec. 155.720 to 
amend those procedures if the COTP or OCMI finds that the transfer 
procedures do not meet the requirements of this part.
    (b) The COTP or OCMI shall notify the vessel operator in writing of 
any inadequacies in the oil transfer procedures. The vessel operator may 
submit written information, views, and arguments on and proposals for 
amending the procedures within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI 
notice. After considering all relevant material presented, the COTP or 
OCMI shall notify the vessel operator of any amendment required or 
adopted, or the COTP or OCMI may rescind the notice. The amendment 
becomes effective 30 days after the vessel operator receives the notice, 
unless the vessel operator petitions the Commandant to review the COTP 
or OCMI notice, in which case its effective date is delayed pending a 
decision by the Commandant. Petitions to the Commandant must be 
submitted in writing via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to 
amend.
    (c) If the COTP or OCMI finds that there is a condition requiring 
immediate action to prevent the discharge or risk of discharge that 
makes the procedure in paragraph (b) of this section impractical or 
contrary to the public interest, he or she may issue an amendment 
effective on the date the vessel operator receives notice of it. In such 
a case, the COTP or OCMI includes a brief statement of the reasons for 
the findings in the notice, and the vessel operator may petition the 
Commandant, in any manner, to review the amendment. The petition does 
not postpone the amendment.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.770  Draining into bilges.

    No person may intentionally drain oil or hazardous material from any 
source into the bilge of a vessel.

[CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.775  Maximum cargo level of oil.

    (a) For the purposes of this section, ``oil'' has the same meaning 
as provided in Sec. 151.05 of this chapter.
    (b) A cargo tank on a tank vessel may not be filled with oil higher 
than--
    (1) 98.5 percent of the cargo tank volume; or
    (2) The level at which the overfill alarm required by Sec. 155.480 
is set.

[CGD 90-071a, 59 FR 53291, Oct. 21, 1994]



Sec. 155.780  Emergency shutdown.

    (a) A tank vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels that is 
carrying oil or hazardous material as cargo must have on board an 
emergency means to enable the person in charge of a transfer operation 
to a facility, to another vessel, or within the vessel to stop the flow 
of oil or hazardous material.
    (b) The means to stop the flow may be a pump control, a quick-
acting, power actuated valve, or an operating procedure. If an emergency 
pump control is used, it must stop the flow of oil or hazardous material 
if the oil or hazardous material could siphon through the stopped pump.
    (c) The means to stop the flow must be operable from the cargo deck, 
cargo control room, or the usual operating station of the person in 
charge of the transfer operation.

[CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.785  Communications.

    (a) During vessel to vessel transfers, each tank vessel with a 
capacity of 250 or more barrels of cargo that is carrying oil or 
hazardous material must have a means that enables continuous two-way 
voice communication between the persons in charge of the transfer 
operations on both vessels.

[[Page 407]]

    (b) Each vessel must have a means, which may be the communication 
system itself, that enables a person on board each vessel to effectively 
indicate his desire to use the means of communication required by 
paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) The means required by paragraph (a) of this section must be 
usable and effective in all phases of the transfer operation and all 
conditions of weather.
    (d) Portable radio devices used to comply with paragraph (a) of this 
section during the transfer of flammable or combustible liquids must be 
intrinsically safe, as defined in 46 CFR 110.15-100(i), and meet Class 
I, Division I, Group D requirements as defined in 46 CFR 111.80.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980; 45 FR 43705, June 30, 1980, as 
amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.790  Deck lighting.

    (a) A self-propelled vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels 
of oil or hazardous material that is conducting transfer operations 
between sunset and sunrise must have deck lighting that adequately 
illuminates--
    (1) Each transfer operations work area and each transfer connection 
point in use on the vessel; and
    (2) Each transfer operations work area and each transfer connection 
point in use on each barge, if any, moored to the vessel to or from 
which oil or hazardous material is being transferred;
    (b) Where the illumination is apparently inadequate the OCMI or COTP 
may require verification by instrument of the levels of illumination. On 
a horizontal plane 3 feet above the deck the illumination must measure 
at least:
    (1) 5.0 foot candles at transfer connection points; and
    (2) 1.0 foot candle in transfer operations work areas.
    (c) Lighting must be located or shielded so as not to mislead or 
otherwise interfere with navigation on the adjacent waterways.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.800  Transfer hose.

    Hose used to transfer oil or hazardous material must meet the 
requirements of Sec. 154.500 of this chapter.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.805  Closure devices.

    (a) Each end of each transfer hose on board which is not connected 
for the transfer of oil or hazardous material must be blanked off with 
butterfly valves, wafer-type resilient seated valves, blank flanges, or 
other means acceptable to the COTP or OCMI.
    (b) New, unused hose is exempt from the requirement in paragraph (a) 
of this section.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



Sec. 155.810  Tank vessel security.

    Operators of tank vessels carrying more oil cargo residue than 
normal in any cargo tank must assign a surveillance person or persons 
responsible for maintaining standard vessel security.

[ USCG-2000-7641, 66 FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.815  Tank vessel integrity.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a tank 
vessel underway or at anchor must have all closure mechanisms on the 
following openings properly closed:
    (1) Expansion trunk hatches;
    (2) Ullage openings;
    (3) Sounding ports;
    (4) Tank cleaning openings; and
    (5) Any other tank vessel openings that maintain the seaworthy 
condition of the tank vessel and prevent the inadvertent release of oil 
or hazardous material in the event of a tank vessel accident.
    (b) No person may open any of the closure mechanisms in paragraph 
(a) of this section while the tank vessel is underway or at anchor 
except when authorized and supervised by a licensed officer or the 
tankerman required by 46 CFR 31.15-5(a).

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]

[[Page 408]]



Sec. 155.820  Records.

    The vessel operator shall keep a written record available for 
inspection by the COTP or OCMI of:
    (a) The name of each person currently designated as a person in 
charge of transfer operations.
    (b) The date and result of the most recent test and inspection of 
each item tested or inspected as required by Sec. 156.170 of this 
chapter;
    (c) The hose information required by Sec. 154.500(e) and (g) of 
this chapter unless that information is marked on the hose; and
    (d) The Declaration of Inspection as required by Sec. 156.150(f) of 
this chapter.

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7175, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 86-034, 55 FR 
36255, Sept. 4, 1990]



                        Subpart D_Response Plans

    Source: CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.1010  Purpose.

    The purpose of this subpart is to establish requirements for oil 
spill response plans for certain vessels. The planning criteria in this 
subpart are intended for use in response plan development and the 
identification of resources necessary to respond to the oil spill 
scenarios prescribed during the planning process. The development of a 
response plan prepares the vessel owner or operator and the vessel's 
crew to respond to an oil spill. The specific criteria for response 
resources and their arrival times are not performance standards. They 
are planning criteria based on a set of assumptions that may not exist 
during an actual oil spill incident.



Sec. 155.1015  Applicability.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, this 
subpart applies to each vessel that is constructed or adapted to carry, 
or that carries, oil in bulk as cargo or oil cargo residue, and that--
    (1) Is a vessel of the United States;
    (2) Operates on the navigable waters of the United States; or
    (3) Transfers oil in a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of 
the United States.
    (b) This subpart also applies to vessels which engage in oil 
lightering operations in the marine environment beyond the baseline from 
which the territorial sea is measured, when the cargo lightered is 
destined for a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United 
States.
    (c) This subpart does not apply to the following types of vessels:
    (1) Public vessels and vessels deemed public vessels under 14 U.S.C. 
827.
    (2) Vessels that, although constructed or adapted to carry oil in 
bulk as cargo or oil cargo residue, are not storing or carrying oil in 
bulk as cargo or oil cargo residue.
    (3) Dedicated response vessels when conducting response operations.
    (4) Vessels of opportunity when conducting response operations in a 
response area.
    (5) Offshore supply vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101.
    (6) Fishing or fishing tender vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101 
of not more than 750 gross tons when engaged only in the fishing 
industry.
    (7) Foreign flag vessels engaged in innocent passage.
    (d) Vessels covered by this subpart that are not operating within 
the navigable waters or the exclusive economic zone of the United States 
must meet all requirements of this subpart except for--
    (1) Identifying and ensuring, through contract or other approved 
means, the availability of response resources including the shore-based 
spill management team;
    (2) Providing the geographic-specific appendices required in Sec. 
155.1035, 155.1040, or 155.1045, as appropriate; and
    (3) Identifying and designating a qualified individual and alternate 
qualified individual required in Sec. 155.1026.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 66 
FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.1020  Definitions.

    Except as otherwise defined in this section, the definitions in 
Sec. 155.110 apply to this subpart and subparts F

[[Page 409]]

and G of this part. For the purposes of this subpart only, the term:
    Adverse weather means the weather conditions that will be considered 
when identifying response systems and equipment in a response plan for 
the applicable operating environment. Factors to consider include, but 
are not limited to, significant wave height, ice, temperature, weather-
related visibility, and currents within the Captain of the Port (COTP) 
zone in which the systems or equipment are intended to function.
    Animal fat means a non-petroleum oil, fat, or grease derived from 
animals and not specifically identified elsewhere in this part.
    Average most probable discharge means a discharge of the lesser of 
50 barrels of oil or 1 percent of the cargo from the vessel during cargo 
oil transfer operations to or from the vessel.
    Bulk means any volume of oil carried in an integral tank of the 
vessel and oil transferred to or from a marine portable tank or 
independent tank while on board a vessel.
    Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone means a zone specified in 33 CFR 
part 3 and, for coastal ports, the seaward extension of that zone to the 
outer boundary of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
    Cargo means oil that is transported to and off-loaded at a 
destination by a vessel. It does not include--
    (1) Oil carried in integral tanks, marine portable tanks, or 
independent tanks for use by machinery, helicopters, and boats carried 
aboard the vessel, or for use by helicopters that are directly 
supporting the vessel's primary operations; or
    (2) Oil transferred from a towing vessel to a vessel in its tow to 
operate installed machinery other than the propulsion plant.
    Contract or other approved means includes--
    (1) A written contractual agreement between a vessel owner or 
operator and an oil spill removal organization. The agreement must 
identify and ensure the availability of specified personnel and 
equipment required under this subpart within stipulated response times 
in the specified geographic areas;
    (2) Certification by the vessel owner or operator that specified 
personnel and equipment required under this subpart are owned, operated, 
or under the direct control of the vessel owner or operator, and are 
available within stipulated response times in the specified geographic 
areas;
    (3) Active membership in a local or regional oil spill removal 
organization that has identified specified personnel and equipment 
required under this subpart that are available to respond to a discharge 
within stipulated response times in the specified geographic areas;
    (4) A document which--
    (i) Identifies the personnel, equipment, and services capable of 
being provided by the oil spill removal organization within stipulated 
response times in the specified geographic areas;
    (ii) Sets out the parties' acknowledgment that the oil spill removal 
organization intends to commit the resources in the event of a response;
    (iii) Permits the Coast Guard to verify the availability of the 
identified response resources through tests, inspections, and exercises; 
and
    (iv) Is referenced in the response plan; or
    (5) With the written consent of the oil spill removal organization, 
the identification of an oil spill removal organization with specified 
equipment and personnel which are available within stipulated response 
times in the specified geographic areas. This paragraph is an other 
approved means for only--
    (i) A vessel carrying oil as secondary cargo to meet the 
requirements under Sec. 155.1045(i)(3);
    (ii) A barge operating on rivers and canals to meet the requirements 
for lightering capability under Sec. Sec. 155.1050(l), 155.1052(g), 
155.1230(g), and 155.2230(g);
    (iii) A vessel to meet the salvage and firefighting requirements in 
Sec. Sec. 155.1050(k), 155.1052(f), 155.1230(f), and 155.2230(f); and
    (iv) A vessel to meet the resource requirements in Sec. 
155.1052(c), 155.1230(c), and 155.2230(c).
    Dedicated response vessel means a vessel of which the service is 
limited exclusively to oil and hazardous substance spill response-
related activities,

[[Page 410]]

including spill recovery and transport, tanker escorting, deployment of 
spill response equipment, supplies, and personnel, and spill response-
related training, testing, exercises, and research.
    Exclusive economic zone means the zone contiguous to the territorial 
sea of United States extending to a distance up to 200 nautical miles 
from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is 
measured.
    Great Lakes means Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and 
Ontario, their connecting and tributary waters, the Saint Lawrence River 
as far as Saint Regis, and adjacent port areas.
    Higher volume port area means the following areas, including any 
water area within 50 nautical miles seaward of the entrance(s) to the 
specified port:
    (1) Boston, MA.
    (2) New York, NY.
    (3) Delaware Bay and River to Philadelphia, PA.
    (4) St. Croix, VI.
    (5) Pascagoula, MS.
    (6) Mississippi River from Southwest Pass, LA to Baton Rouge, LA. 
Note: Vessels destined for, departing from, or offloading at the 
Louisiana Offshore Oil Port are not considered to be operating in this 
higher volume port area.
    (7) Lake Charles, LA.
    (8) Sabine-Neches River, TX.
    (9) Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel, TX.
    (10) Corpus Christi, TX.
    (11) Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor, CA.
    (12) San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Carquinez Strait, and Suisun 
Bay to Antioch, CA.
    (13) Strait of Juan De Fuca at Port Angeles, WA to and including 
Puget Sound, WA.
    (14) Prince William Sound, AK.
    Inland area means the area shoreward of the boundary lines defined 
in 46 CFR part 7, except that in the Gulf of Mexico, it means the area 
shoreward of the lines of demarcation (COLREG lines) as defined in 
Sec. Sec. 80.740 through 80.850 of this chapter. The inland area does 
not include the Great Lakes.
    Maximum extent practicable means the planned capability to respond 
to a worst case discharge in adverse weather, as contained in a response 
plan that meets the criteria in this subpart or in a specific plan 
approved by the Coast Guard.
    Maximum most probable discharge means a discharge of--
    (1) 2,500 barrels of oil for vessels with an oil cargo capacity 
equal to or greater than 25,000 barrels; or
    (2) 10% of the vessel's oil cargo capacity for vessels with a 
capacity of less than 25,000 barrels.
    Nearshore area means the area extending seaward 12 miles from the 
boundary lines defined in 46 CFR part 7, except in the Gulf of Mexico. 
In the Gulf of Mexico, a nearshore area is one extending seaward 12 
miles from the line of demarcation (COLREG lines) as defined in 
Sec. Sec. 80.740 through 80.850 of this chapter.
    Non-persistent or Group I oil means a petroleum-based oil that, at 
the time of shipment, consists of hydrocarbon fractions--
    (1) At least 50% of which by volume, distill at a temperature of 340 
degrees C (645 degrees F); and
    (2) At least 95% of which by volume, distill at a temperature of 370 
degrees C (700 degrees F).
    Non-petroleum oil means oil of any kind that is not petroleum-based. 
It includes, but is not limited to, animal fats and vegetable oils.
    Ocean means the open ocean, offshore area, and nearshore area as 
defined in this subpart.
    Offshore area means the area up to 38 nautical miles seaward of the 
outer boundary of the nearshore area.
    Oil field waste means non-pumpable drilling fluids with possible 
trace amounts of metal and oil.
    Oil spill removal organization means an entity that provides 
response resources.
    On-scene coordinator or OSC means the Federal official predesignated 
by the Coast Guard or Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate and 
direct Federal removal efforts at the scene of an oil or hazardous 
substance discharge as prescribed in the National Oil and Hazardous 
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (National Contingency Plan) as 
published in 40 CFR part 300.
    Open ocean means the area from 38 nautical miles seaward of the 
outer boundary of the nearshore area, to the

[[Page 411]]

seaward boundary of the exclusive economic zone.
    Operating in compliance with the plan means operating in compliance 
with the provisions of this subpart, including ensuring the availability 
of the response resources by contract or other approved means and 
conducting the necessary training and exercises.
    Operator means person who is an owner, a demise charterer, or other 
contractor, who conducts the operation of, or who is responsible for the 
operation of a vessel. For the purposes of this subpart only, the 
operator of a towing vessel is not, per se, considered the operator of a 
vessel being towed.
    Other non-petroleum oil means an oil of any kind that is not a 
petroleum oil, an animal fat, or a vegetable oil.
    Owner or vessel owner means any person holding legal or equitable 
title to a vessel; provided, however, that a person holding legal or 
equitable title to a vessel solely as security is not the owner. In a 
case where a Certificate of Documentation has been issued, the owner is 
the person or persons whose name or names appear on the vessel's 
Certificate of Documentation provided, however, that where a Certificate 
of Documentation has been issued in the name of a president or secretary 
of an incorporated company, such incorporated company is the owner.
    Persistent oil means a petroleum-based oil that does not meet the 
distillation criteria for a non-persistent oil. For the purposes of this 
subpart, persistent oils are further classified based on specific 
gravity as follows:
    (1) Group II--specific gravity of less than .85.
    (2) Group III--specific gravity equal to or greater than .85 and 
less than .95.
    (3) Group IV--specific gravity equal to or greater than .95 and less 
than or equal to 1.0.
    (4) Group V--specific gravity greater than 1.0.
    Petroleum oil means petroleum in any form, including but not limited 
to, crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil residue, and refined products.
    Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual means a 
shore-based representative of a vessel owner or operator who meets the 
requirements of 33 CFR 155.1026.
    Response activity means the containment and removal of oil from the 
water and shorelines, the temporary storage and disposal of recovered 
oil, or the taking of other actions as necessary to minimize or mitigate 
damage to public health or welfare or the environment.
    Response resources means the personnel, equipment, supplies, and 
other capability necessary to perform the response activities identified 
in a response plan.
    Rivers and canals mean bodies of water confined within the inland 
area, including the Intracoastal Waterways and other waterways 
artificially created for navigation, that have a project depth of 12 
feet or less.
    Secondary Cargo (see Vessels Carrying Oil as a Secondary Cargo)
    Specific gravity means the ratio of the mass of a given volume of 
liquid at 15 degrees C (60 degrees F) to the mass of an equal volume of 
pure water at the same temperature.
    Spill management team means the personnel identified to staff the 
organizational structure identified in a response plan to manage 
response plan implementation.
    Substantial threat of such a discharge means any incident involving 
a vessel that may create a significant risk of discharge of cargo oil. 
Such incidents include, but are not limited to, groundings, strandings, 
collisions, hull damage, fire, explosion, loss of propulsion, flooding, 
on-deck spills, or other similar occurrences.
    Tanker means a self-propelled tank vessel constructed or adapted 
primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo 
spaces.
    Tier means the combination of required response resources and the 
times within which the resources must arrive on scene. Appendix B of 
this part, especially Tables 5 and 6, provide specific guidance on 
calculating the response resources required by each tier. Sections 
155.1050(g), 155.1135, 155.1230(d), and 155.2230(d) set forth the 
required times within which the response resources must arrive on scene. 
Tiers are applied in three categories:
    (1) Higher volume port areas;
    (2) The Great Lakes; and

[[Page 412]]

    (3) All other operating environments, including rivers and canals, 
inland, nearshore, and offshore areas.
    Vegetable oil means a non-petroleum oil or fat not specifically 
identified elsewhere in this part that is derived from plant seeds, 
nuts, kernels or fruits.
    Vessel of opportunity means a vessel engaged in spill response 
activities that is normally and substantially involved in activities 
other than spill response and not a vessel carrying oil as a primary 
cargo.
    Vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo means all vessels except 
dedicated response vessels carrying oil in bulk as cargo or cargo 
residue that have a Certificate of Inspection issued under 46 CFR 
Chapter I, subchapter D.
    Vessels carrying oil as a secondary cargo means vessels, other than 
vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo, carrying oil in bulk as cargo 
or cargo residue pursuant to a permit issued under 46 CFR 30.01-5, 
70.05-30, or 90.05-35, an International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) 
or Noxious Liquid Substance (NLS) certificate required by 33 CFR 
Sec. Sec. 151.33 or 151.35; or any uninspected vessel that carries oil 
in bulk as cargo or cargo residue.
    Worst case discharge means a discharge in adverse weather conditions 
of a vessel's entire oil cargo.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by USCG-2000-7641, 66 
FR 55572, Nov. 2, 2001]



Sec. 155.1025  Operating restrictions and interim operating authorization.

    (a) Vessels subject to this subpart may not perform the following 
functions, unless operating in compliance with a plan approved under 
Sec. 155.1065:
    (1) Handling, storing, or transporting oil on the navigable waters 
of the United States; or
    (2) Transferring oil in any other port or place subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction.
    (b) Vessels subject to this subpart may not transfer oil in a port 
or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, where the oil 
to be transferred was received from another vessel subject to this 
subpart during a lightering operation referred to in Sec. 155.1015(b), 
unless both vessels engaged in the lightering operation were operating 
at the time in compliance with a plan approved under Sec. 155.1065.
    (c)(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a) of this 
section, a vessel may continue to handle, store, transport, transfer, or 
lighter oil for 2 years after the date of submission of a response plan 
pending approval of that plan, if the vessel owner or operator has 
received written authorization for continued operations from the Coast 
Guard.
    (2) To receive this authorization, the vessel owner or operator must 
certify in writing to the Coast Guard that the owner or operator has 
identified and ensured the availability of, through contract or other 
approved means, the necessary private response resources to respond, to 
the maximum extent practicable, to a worst case discharge or substantial 
threat of such a discharge from their vessel as described in Sec. Sec. 
155.1050, 155.1052, 155.1230, or 155.2230, as appropriate.
    (d) With respect to paragraph (b) of this section, a vessel may not 
continue to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil if--
    (1) The Coast Guard determines that the response resources 
identified in the vessel's certification statement do not meet the 
requirements of this subpart;
    (2) The contracts or agreements cited in the vessel's certification 
statement are no longer valid;
    (3) The vessel is not operating in compliance with the submitted 
plan; or
    (4) The period of this authorization expires.
    (e) An owner or operator of a vessel may be authorized by the 
applicable COTP to have that vessel make one voyage to transport or 
handle oil in a geographic specific area not covered by the vessel's 
response plan. All requirements of this subpart must be met for any 
subsequent voyages to that geographic specific area. To be authorized, 
the vessel owner or operator shall certify to the COTP in writing, prior 
to the vessel's entry into the COTP zone, that--
    (1) A response plan meeting the requirements of this subpart (except 
for the applicable geographic specific appendix) or a shipboard oil 
pollution emergency plan approved by the flag state that meets the 
requirements of

[[Page 413]]

Regulation 26 of Annex I to the International Convention for the 
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 
1978 relating thereto, as amended (MARPOL 73/78) which is available from 
the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, 
Springfield, VA 22161;
    (2) The approved response plan or the required plan section(s) is 
aboard the vessel;
    (3) The vessel owner or operator has identified and informed the 
vessel master and the COTP of the designated qualified individual prior 
to the vessel's entry into the COTP zone; and
    (4) The vessel owner or operator has identified and ensured the 
availability of, through contract or other approved means, the private 
response resources necessary to respond, to the maximum extent 
practicable under the criteria in Sec. Sec. 155.1050, 155.1052, 
155.1230, or 155.2230, as appropriate, to a worst case discharge or 
substantial threat of discharge from the vessel in the applicable COTP 
zone.



Sec. 155.1026  Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual.

    (a) The response plan must identify a qualified individual and at 
least one alternate who meet the requirements of this section. The 
qualified individual or alternate qualified individual must be available 
on a 24-hour basis.
    (b) The qualified individual and alternate must--
    (1) Speak fluent English;
    (2) Except as set out in paragraph (c) of this section, be located 
in the United States;
    (3) Be familiar with the implementation of the vessel response plan; 
and
    (4) Be trained in the responsibilities of the qualified individual 
under the response plan.
    (c) For Canadian flag vessels while operating on the Great Lakes or 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, WA, the qualified individual 
may be located in Canada if he or she meets all other requirements in 
paragraph (b) of this section.
    (d) The owner operator shall provide each qualified individual and 
alternate qualified individual identified in the plan with a document 
designating them as a qualified individual and specifying their full 
authority to--
    (1) Activate and engage in contracting with oil spill removal 
organization(s) and other response related resources identified in the 
plan;
    (2) Act as a liaison with the predesignated Federal On-Scene 
Coordinator (OCS); and
    (3) Obligate funds required to carry out response activities.
    (e) The owner or operator of a vessel may designate an organization 
to fulfill the role of the qualified individual and alternate qualified 
individual. The organization must then identify a qualified individual 
and at least one alternate qualified individual who meet the 
requirements of this section. The vessel owner or operator is required 
to list in the response plan the organization, the person identified as 
the qualified individual, and the person or persons identified as the 
alternate qualified individual(s).
    (f) The qualified individual is not responsible for--
    (1) The adequacy of response plans prepared by the owner or 
operator; or
    (2) Contracting or obligating funds for response resources beyond 
the full authority contained in their designation from the owner or 
operator of the vessel.
    (g) The liability of a qualified individual is considered to be in 
accordance with the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(4).



Sec. 155.1030  General response plan requirements.

    (a) The plan must cover all geographic areas of the United States in 
which the vessel intends to handle, store, or transport oil, including 
port areas and offshore transit areas.
    (b) The plan must be written in English and, if applicable, in a 
language that is understood by the crew members with responsibilities 
under the plan.
    (c) A vessel response plan must be divided into the following 
sections:
    (1) General information and introduction.
    (2) Notification procedures.
    (3) Shipboard spill mitigation procedures.
    (4) Shore-based response activities.

[[Page 414]]

    (5) List of contacts.
    (6) Training procedures.
    (7) Exercise procedures.
    (8) Plan review and update procedures.
    (9) On board notification checklist and emergency procedures 
(unmanned tank barges only).
    (10) Geographic-specific appendix for each COTP zone in which the 
vessel or vessels operate.
    (11) An appendix for vessel-specific information for the vessel or 
vessels covered by the plan.
    (d) A vessel owner or operator with multiple vessels may submit one 
plan for each class of vessel (i.e., manned vessels carrying oil as 
primary cargo, unmanned vessels carrying oil as primary cargo, and 
vessels carrying oil as secondary cargo) with a separate vessel-specific 
appendix for each vessel covered by the plan and a separate geographic-
specific appendix for each COTP zone in which the vessel(s) will 
operate.
    (e) The required contents for each section of the plan are contained 
in Sec. Sec. 155.1035, 155.1040, and 155.1045, as applicable to the 
type or service of the vessel.
    (f) The response plan for a barge carrying nonhazardous oil field 
waste may follow the same format as that for a vessel carrying oil as a 
secondary cargo under Sec. 155.1045 in lieu of the plan required under 
Sec. 155.1035 or Sec. 155.1040.
    (g) A response plan must be divided into the sections described in 
paragraph (c) of this section unless the plan is supplemented with a 
cross-reference table to identify the location of the information 
required by this subpart.
    (h) The information contained in a response plan must be consistent 
with the--
    (1) National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan 
(NCP) (40 CFR part 300) and the Area Contingency Plan(s) (ACP) in effect 
on the date 6 months prior to the submission date of the response plan; 
or
    (2) More recent NCP and ACP(s).
    (i) Copies of the submitted and approved response plan must be 
available as follows:
    (1) The owner or operator of all vessels, except for unmanned tank 
barges, shall ensure that one English language copy of the plan sections 
listed in paragraph (c) (1), (2), (3), (5), (10) and (11) of this 
section and the Coast Guard approval letter or notarized copy of the 
approval letter are maintained aboard the vessel. If applicable, 
additional copies of the required plan sections must be in the language 
understood by crew members with responsibilities under the plan and 
maintained aboard the vessel.
    (2) The owner or operator of all unmanned tank barges shall ensure 
that one English language copy of the plan section listed in paragraph 
(c)(9) of this section and the Coast Guard approval letter or notarized 
copy of the approval letter are maintained aboard the barge.
    (3) The vessel owner or operator shall maintain a current copy of 
the entire plan, and ensure that each person identified as a qualified 
individual and alternate qualified individual in the plan has a current 
copy of the entire plan.
    (j) If an owner or operator of a United States flag vessel informs 
the Coast Guard in writing at the time of the plan submission according 
to the procedures of Sec. 155.1065, the owner or operator may address 
the provisions of Regulation 26 of MARPOL 73/78 if the owner or 
operator--
    (1) Develops a vessel response plan under Sec. 155.1030 and 
Sec. Sec. 155.1035, 155.1040, or 155.1045, as applicable;
    (2) Expands the plan to cover discharges of all oils defined under 
MARPOL, including fuel oil (bunker) carried on board. The owner or 
operator is not required to include these additional oils in calculating 
the planning volumes that are used to determine the quantity of response 
resources that the owner or operator must ensure through contract or 
other approved means;
    (3) Provides the information on authorities or persons to be 
contacted in the event of an oil pollution incident as required by 
Regulation 26 of MARPOL 73/78. This information must include--
    (i) An appendix containing coastal State contacts for those coastal 
States the exclusive economic zone of which the vessel regularly 
transits. The appendix should list those agencies or officials of 
administrations responsible for receiving and processing pollution 
incident reports; and

[[Page 415]]

    (ii) An appendix of port contacts for those ports at which the 
vessel regularly calls; and
    (4) Expands the plan to include the procedures and point of contact 
on the ship for coordinating shipboard activities with national and 
local authorities in combating an oil spill incident. The plan should 
address the need to contact the coastal State to advise them of 
action(s) being implemented and determine what authorization(s), if any, 
are needed.
    (5) Provides a cross reference section to identify the location of 
the information required by Sec. 155.1030(j).
    (k) A vessel carrying oil as a secondary cargo may comply with the 
requirements of Sec. 155.1045 by having a response plan approved under 
Regulation 26 of MARPOL 73/78 with the addition of the following--
    (1) Identification of the qualified individual and alternate that 
meets the requirements of Sec. 155.1026;
    (2) A geographic specific appendix meeting the requirements of Sec. 
155.1045(i), including the identification of a contracted oil spill 
removal organization;
    (3) Identification of a spill management team;
    (4) An appendix containing the training procedures required by 
155.1045(f); and
    (5) An appendix containing the exercise procedures required by 
155.1045(g).
    (l) For plans submitted prior to the effective date of this final 
rule, the owner or operator of each vessel may elect to comply with any 
or all of the provisions of this final rule by amending or revising the 
appropriate section of the previously submitted plan.



Sec. 155.1035  Response plan requirements for manned vessels carrying 
oil as a primary cargo.

    (a) General information and introduction. This section of the 
response plan must include--
    (1) The vessel's name, country of registry, call sign, official 
number, and International Maritime Organization (IMO) international 
number (if applicable). If the plan covers multiple vessels, this 
information must be provided for each vessel;
    (2) The name, address, and procedures for contacting the vessel's 
owner or operator on a 24-hour basis;
    (3) A list of the COTP zones in which the vessel intends to handle, 
store, or transport oil;
    (4) A table of contents or index of sufficient detail to permit 
personnel with responsibilities under the response plan to locate the 
specific sections of the plan; and
    (5) A record of change(s) page to record information on plan 
reviews, updates or revisions.
    (b) Notification procedures. This section of the response plan must 
include the following notification information:
    (1) A checklist with all notifications, including telephone or other 
contact numbers, in order of priority to be made by shipboard or shore-
based personnel and the information required for those notifications. 
Notifications must include those required by--
    (i) MARPOL 73/78 and 33 CFR part 153; and
    (ii) Any applicable State.
    (2) Identification of the person(s) to be notified of a discharge or 
substantial threat of a discharge of oil. If the notifications vary due 
to vessel location, the persons to be notified also must be identified 
in a geographic-specific appendix. This section must separately 
identify--
    (i) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by shipboard 
personnel; and
    (ii) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by shore-
based personnel.
    (3) The procedures for notifying the qualified individual(s) 
designated by the vessel's owner or operator.
    (4) Descriptions of the primary and, if available, secondary 
communications methods by which the notifications will be made that 
should be consistent with the regulations in Sec. 155.1035(b)(1).
    (5) The information that is to be provided in the initial and any 
follow up notifications required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (i) The initial notification may be submitted in accordance with IMO 
Resolution A648(16) ``General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and 
Ship Reporting Requirements'' which is available through COMDT G-MSO-4, 
U.S.

[[Page 416]]

Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-
0001. It must include at least the following information:
    (A) Vessel name, country of registry, call sign, and official number 
(if any);
    (B) Date and time of the incident;
    (C) Location of the incident;
    (D) Course, speed, and intended track of vessel;
    (E) Radio station(s) and frequencies guarded;
    (F) Date and time of next report;
    (G) Type and quantity of oil on board;
    (H) Nature and detail of defects, deficiencies, and damage (e.g. 
grounding, collision, hull failure, etc.);
    (I) Details of pollution, including estimate of oil discharged or 
threat of discharge;
    (J) Weather and sea conditions on scene;
    (K) Ship size and type;
    (L) Actions taken or planned by persons on scene;
    (M) Current conditions of the vessel; and
    (N) Number of crew and details of injuries, if any.
    (ii) After the transmission of the initial notification, as much as 
possible of the information essential for the protection of the marine 
environment as is appropriate to the incident must be reported to the 
appropriate on-scene coordinator in a follow-up report. This information 
must include--
    (A) Additional details on the type of cargo on board;
    (B) Additional details on the condition of the vessel and ability to 
transfer cargo, ballast, and fuel;
    (C) Additional details on the quantity, extent and movement of the 
pollution and whether the discharge is continuing;
    (D) Any changes in the on-scene weather or sea conditions; and
    (E) Actions being taken with regard to the discharge and the 
movement of the ship.
    (6) Identification of the person(s) to be notified of a vessel 
casualty potentially affecting the seaworthiness of a vessel and the 
information to be provided by the vessel's crew to shore-based personnel 
to facilitate the assessment of damage stability and stress.
    (c) Shipboard spill mitigation procedures. This section of the 
response plan must include--
    (1) Procedures for the crew to mitigate or prevent any discharge or 
a substantial threat of such discharge of oil resulting from shipboard 
operational activities associated with internal or external cargo 
transfers. Responsibilities of vessel personnel should be identified by 
job title. These procedures must address personnel actions in the event 
of a--
    (i) Transfer system leak;
    (ii) Tank overflow; or
    (iii) Suspected cargo tank or hull leak;
    (2) Procedures in the order of priority for the crew to mitigate or 
prevent any discharge or a substantial threat of such a discharge in the 
event of the following casualties or emergencies:
    (i) Grounding or stranding.
    (ii) Collision.
    (iii) Explosion or fire, or both.
    (iv) Hull failure.
    (v) Excessive list.
    (vi) Equipment failure (e.g. main propulsion, steering gear, etc.);
    (3) Procedures for the crew to deploy discharge removal equipment as 
required under subpart B of this part;
    (4) The procedures for internal transfers of cargo in an emergency;
    (5) The procedures for ship-to-ship transfers of cargo in an 
emergency:
    (i) The format and content of the ship-to-ship transfer procedures 
must be consistent with the Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum) 
published jointly by the International Chamber of Shipping and the Oil 
Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF).
    (ii) The procedures must identify the response resources necessary 
to carry out the transfers, including--
    (A) Fendering equipment (ship-to-ship only);
    (B) Transfer hoses and connection equipment;
    (C) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment;
    (D) Lightering and mooring masters (ship-to-ship only); and
    (E) Vessel and barge brokers (ship-to-ship only).
    (iii) Reference can be made to a separate oil transfer procedure and

[[Page 417]]

lightering plan carried aboard the vessel, provided that safety 
considerations are summarized in the response plan.
    (iv) The location of all equipment and fittings, if any, carried 
aboard the vessel to perform such transfers must be identified;
    (6) The procedures and arrangements for emergency towing, including 
the rigging and operation of any emergency towing equipment, including 
that required by subpart B of this part, aboard the vessel;
    (7) The location, crew responsibilities, and procedures for use of 
shipboard equipment which may be carried to mitigate an oil discharge;
    (8) The crew responsibilities, if any, for recordkeeping and 
sampling of spilled oil. Any requirements for sampling must address 
safety procedures to be followed by the crew;
    (9) The crew's responsibilities, if any, to initiate a response and 
supervise shore-based response resources;
    (10) Damage stability and hull stress considerations when performing 
shipboard mitigation measures. This section must identify and describe--
    (i) Activities in which the crew is trained and qualified to execute 
absent shore-based support or advice; and
    (ii) The information to be collected by the vessel's crew to 
facilitate shore-based assistance; and
    (11)(i) Location of vessel plans necessary to perform salvage, 
stability, and hull stress assessments. A copy of these plans must be 
maintained ashore by either the vessel owner or operator or the vessel's 
recognized classification society unless the vessel has prearranged for 
a shore-based damage stability and residual strength calculation program 
with the vessel's baseline strength and stability characteristics pre-
entered. The response plan must indicate the shore location and 24-hour 
access procedures of the calculation program or the following plans:
    (A) General arrangement plan.
    (B) Midship section plan.
    (C) Lines plan or table of offsets.
    (D) Tank tables.
    (E) Load line assignment.
    (F) Light ship characteristics.
    (ii) The plan must identify the shore location and 24-hour access 
procedures for the computerized, shore-based damage stability and 
residual structural strength calculation programs required by Sec. 
155.240.
    (d) Shore-based response activities. This section of the response 
plan must include the following information:
    (1) The qualified individual's responsibilities and authority, 
including immediate communication with the Federal on-scene coordinator 
and notification of the oil spill removal organization(s) identified in 
the plan.
    (2) If applicable, procedures for transferring responsibility for 
direction of response activities from vessel personnel to the shore-
based spill management team.
    (3) The procedures for coordinating the actions of the vessel owner 
or operator or qualified individual with the predesignated Federal on-
scene coordinator responsible for overseeing or directing those actions.
    (4) The organizational structure that will be used to manage the 
response actions. This structure must include the following functional 
areas and must further include information for key components within 
each functional area:
    (i) Command and control;
    (ii) Public information;
    (iii) Safety;
    (iv) Liaison with government agencies;
    (v) Spill response operations;
    (vi) Planning;
    (vii) Logistics support; and
    (viii) Finance.
    (5) The responsibilities of, duties of, and functional job 
descriptions for each oil spill management team position within the 
organizational structure identified in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.
    (e) List of contacts. The name, location, and 24-hour contact 
information for the following key individuals and organizations must be 
included in this section of the response plan or, if more appropriate, 
in a geographic-specific appendix and referenced in this section of the 
response plan:
    (1) Vessel owner or operator.
    (2) Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual for the 
vessel's area of operation.

[[Page 418]]

    (3) Applicable insurance representatives or surveyors for the 
vessel's area of operation.
    (4) The vessel's local agent(s) for the vessel's area of operation.
    (5) Person(s) within the oil spill removal organization to notify 
for activation of that oil spill removal organization for the three 
spill scenarios identified in paragraph (i)(5) of this section for the 
vessel's area of operation.
    (6) Person(s) within the identified response organization to notify 
for activating that organization to provide:
    (i) The required emergency lightering required by Sec. 155.1050(l), 
Sec. 155.1052(g), Sec. 155.1230(g), or Sec. 155.2230(g), as 
applicable to the type of service of the vessel; and
    (ii) The required salvage and firefighting required by Sec. 
155.1050(k), Sec. 155.1052(e), Sec. 155.1230(e), and Sec. 
155.2230(e), as applicable to the type of service of the vessel.
    (7) Person(s) to notify for activation of the spill management team 
for the spill response scenarios identified in paragraph (i)(5) of this 
section for the vessel's area of operation.
    (f) Training procedures. This section of the response plan must 
address the training procedures and programs of the vessel owner or 
operator to meet the requirements in Sec. 155.1055.
    (g) Exercise procedures. This section of the response plan must 
address the exercise program to be carried out by the vessel owner or 
operator to meet the requirements in Sec. 155.1060.
    (h) Plan review, update, revision, amendment, and appeal procedure. 
This section of the response plan must address--
    (1) The procedures to be followed by the vessel owner or operator to 
meet the requirements of Sec. 155.1070; and
    (2) The procedures to be followed for any post-discharge review of 
the plan to evaluate and validate its effectiveness.
    (i) Geographic-specific appendices for each COTP zone in which a 
vessel operates. A geographic-specific appendix must be included for 
each COTP zone identified. The appendices must include the following 
information or identify the location of such information within the 
plan:
    (1) A list of the geographic areas (port areas, rivers and canals, 
Great Lakes, inland, nearshore, offshore, and open ocean areas) in which 
the vessel intends to handle, store, or transport oil within the 
applicable COTP zone.
    (2) The volume and group of oil on which the required level of 
response resources are calculated.
    (3) Required Federal or State notifications applicable to the 
geographic areas in which a vessel operates.
    (4) Identification of the qualified individuals.
    (5) Identification of the oil spill removal organization(s) that are 
identified and ensured available, through contract or other approved 
means, and the spill management team to respond to the following spill 
scenarios:
    (i) Average most probable discharge.
    (ii) Maximum most probable discharge.
    (iii) Worst case discharge.
    (6) The organization(s) identified to meet the requirements of 
paragraph (i)(5) of this section must be capable of providing the 
equipment and supplies necessary to meet the requirements of Sec. Sec. 
155.1050, 155.1052, 155.1230, and 155.2230, as appropriate, and sources 
of trained personnel to continue operation of the equipment and staff 
the oil spill removal organization(s) and spill management team 
identified for the first 7 days of the response.
    (7) The appendix must list the response resources and related 
information required under Sec. Sec. 155.1050, 155.1052, 155.1230, 
155.2230, and Appendix B of this part, as appropriate.
    (8) If an oil spill removal organization(s) has been evaluated by 
the Coast Guard and their capability has been determined to equal or 
exceed the response capability needed by the vessel, the appendix may 
identify only the organization and their applicable classification and 
not the information required in paragraph (i)(7) of this section.
    (9) The appendix must also separately list the companies identified 
to provide the salvage, vessel firefighting, lightering, and if 
applicable, dispersant capabilities required in this subpart.
    (j) Appendices for vessel-specific information. This section must 
include for

[[Page 419]]

each vessel covered by the plan the following information:
    (1) List of the vessel's principal characteristics.
    (2) Capacities of all cargo, fuel, lube oil, ballast, and fresh 
water tanks.
    (3) The total volume and cargo groups of oil cargo that would be 
involved in the--
    (i) Maximum most probable discharge; and
    (ii) Worst case discharge.
    (4) Diagrams showing location of all tanks.
    (5) General arrangement plan (can be maintained separately aboard 
the vessel providing the response plan identifies the location).
    (6) Midships section plan (can be maintained separately aboard the 
vessel providing the response plan identifies the location).
    (7) Cargo and fuel piping diagrams and pumping plan, as applicable 
(can be maintained separately aboard the vessel providing the response 
plan identifies the location).
    (8) Damage stability data (can be maintained separately providing 
the response plan identifies the location).
    (9) Location of cargo and fuel stowage plan for vessel (normally 
maintained separately aboard the vessel).
    (10) Location of information on the name, description, physical and 
chemical characteristics, health and safety hazards, and spill and 
firefighting procedures for the oil cargo aboard the vessel. A material 
safety data sheet meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200, cargo 
information required by 33 CFR 154.310, or equivalent will meet this 
requirement. This information can be maintained separately.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 
33666, June 28, 1996; USCG-2005-21531, 70 FR 36349, June 23, 2005]



Sec. 155.1040  Response plan requirements for unmanned tank barges 
carrying oil as a primary cargo.

    (a) General information and introduction. This section of the 
response plan must include--
    (1) A list of tank barges covered by the plan, which must include 
the country of registry, call sign, IMO international numbers (if 
applicable), and official numbers of the listed tank barges;
    (2) The name, address, and procedures for contacting the barge's 
owner or operator on a 24-hour basis;
    (3) A list of the COTP zones in which the tank barges covered by the 
plan intend to handle, store, or transport oil;
    (4) A table of contents or index of sufficient detail to permit 
personnel with responsibilities under the response plan to locate the 
specific sections of the plan; and
    (5) A record of change(s) page used to record information on plan 
reviews, updates or revisions.
    (b) Notification procedures. This section of the response plan must 
include the following notification information:
    (1) A checklist with all notifications. The checklist must include 
notifications required by MARPOL 73/78, 33 CFR part 153, and any 
applicable State, including telephone or other contact numbers, in the 
order of priority and the information required for those notifications 
to be made by the--
    (i) Towing vessel;
    (ii) Vessel owner or operator; or
    (iii) Qualified individual.
    (2) Identification of the person(s) to be notified of a discharge or 
substantial threat of a discharge of oil. If the notifications vary due 
to the location of the barge, the persons to be notified also must be 
identified in a geographic-specific appendix. This section must 
separately identify--
    (i) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by the 
towing vessel; and
    (ii) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by shore-
based personnel.
    (3) The procedures for notifying the qualified individuals 
designated by the barge's owner or operator.
    (4) Identification of the primary and, if available, secondary 
communications methods by which the notifications will be made, 
consistent with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (5) The information that is to be provided in the initial and any 
follow-up notifications required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

[[Page 420]]

    (i) The initial notification information must include at least the 
following information:
    (A) Towing vessel name (if applicable);
    (B) Tank barge name, country of registry, and official number;
    (C) Date and time of the incident;
    (D) Location of the incident;
    (E) Course, speed, and intended track of towing vessel (if 
applicable);
    (F) Radio station(s) frequencies guarded by towing vessel (if 
applicable);
    (G) Date and time of next report;
    (H) Type and quantity of oil on board;
    (I) Nature and details of defects, deficiencies, and damage (e.g., 
grounding, collision, hull failure, etc.);
    (J) Details of pollution, including estimate of oil discharged or 
threat of discharge;
    (K) Weather and sea conditions on scene;
    (L) Barge size and type;
    (M) Actions taken or planned by persons on scene;
    (N) Current condition of the barge; and
    (O) Details of injuries, if any.
    (ii) After the transmission of the initial notification, as much as 
possible of the information essential for the protection of the marine 
environment as is appropriate to the incident must be reported to the 
appropriate on-scene coordinator in a follow-up report. This information 
must include--
    (A) Additional detail on the type of cargo on board;
    (B) Additional details on the condition of the barge and ability to 
transfer cargo, ballast, and fuel;
    (C) Additional details on the quantity, extent and movement of the 
pollution and whether the discharge is continuing;
    (D) Any changes in the on-scene weather or sea conditions; and
    (E) Actions being taken with regard to the discharge and the 
movement of the vessel.
    (6) Identification of the person(s) to be notified of a vessel 
casualty potentially affecting the seaworthiness of a vessel and the 
information to be provided by the towing vessel personnel or tankermen, 
as applicable, to shore-based personnel to facilitate the assessment of 
damage stability and stress.
    (c) Shipboard spill mitigation procedures. This section of the 
response plan must include--
    (1) Procedures to be followed by the tankerman, as defined in 46 CFR 
35.35-1, to mitigate or prevent any discharge or a substantial threat of 
such a discharge of oil resulting from operational activities and 
casualties. These procedures must address personnel actions in the event 
of a--
    (i) Transfer system leak;
    (ii) Tank overflow; or
    (iii) Suspected cargo tank or hull leak;
    (2) Procedures in the order of priority for the towing vessel or 
barge owner or operator to mitigate or prevent any discharge or a 
substantial threat of such a discharge of oil in the event of the 
following casualties or emergencies:
    (i) Grounding or stranding;
    (ii) Collision;
    (iii) Explosion or fire, or both;
    (iv) Hull failure;
    (v) Excessive list; and
    (3) Procedures for tankermen or towing vessel crew to employ 
discharge removal equipment required by subpart B of this part;
    (4) The procedures for the internal transfer of cargo in an 
emergency;
    (5) The procedures for ship-to-ship transfers of cargo in an 
emergency:
    (i) The procedures must identify the response resources necessary to 
carry out the transfers, including--
    (A) Fendering equipment (ship-to-ship only);
    (B) Transfer hoses and connection equipment;
    (C) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment; and
    (D) Lightering vessels (ship-to-ship only).
    (ii) Reference can be made to separate oil transfer procedures or a 
lightering plan provided that safety considerations are summarized in 
the response plan.
    (iii) The location of all equipment and fittings, if any, to perform 
such transfers must be identified;
    (6) The procedures and arrangements for emergency towing, including 
the

[[Page 421]]

rigging and operation of any emergency towing equipment, including that 
required by subpart B of this part aboard the barge;
    (7) The location and procedures for use of equipment stowed aboard 
either the barge or towing vessel to mitigate an oil discharge;
    (8) The responsibilities of the towing vessel crew and facility or 
fleeting area personnel, if any, to initiate a response and supervise 
shore-based response resources;
    (9) Damage stability, if applicable, and hull stress considerations 
when performing on board mitigation measures. This section must identify 
and describe--
    (i) Activities in which the towing vessel crew or tankerman is 
trained and qualified to execute absent shore-based support or advice;
    (ii) The individuals who shall be notified of a casualty potentially 
affecting the seaworthiness of the barge; and
    (iii) The information that must be provided by the towing vessel to 
facilitate the assessment of damage stability and stress; and
    (10)(i) Location of barge plans necessary to perform salvage, 
stability, and hull stress assessments. A copy of these barge plans must 
be maintained ashore by either the barge owner or operator or the 
vessel's recognized classification society. The response plan must 
indicate the shore location and 24-hour access procedures of the 
following plans:
    (A) General arrangement plan.
    (B) Midship section plan.
    (C) Lines plan or table of offsets, as available.
    (D) Tank tables; and
    (ii) Plans for offshore oil barges must identify the shore location 
and 24-hour access procedures for the computerized shore-based damage 
stability and residual structural strength calculation programs required 
by Sec. 155.240.
    (d) Shore-based response activities. This section of the response 
plan must include the following information:
    (1) The qualified individual's responsibilities and authority, 
including immediate communication with the Federal on-scene coordinator 
and notification of the oil spill removal organization(s) identified in 
the plan.
    (2) If applicable, procedures for transferring responsibility for 
direction of response activities from towing vessel personnel or 
tankermen to the shore-based spill management team.
    (3) The procedures for coordinating the actions of the barge owner 
or operator of qualified individual with the action of the predesignated 
Federal on-scene coordinator responsible for overseeing or directing 
those actions.
    (4) The organizational structure that will manage the barge owner or 
operator's response actions. This structure must include the following 
functional areas and must further include information for key components 
within each functional area:
    (i) Command and control;
    (ii) Public information;
    (iii) Safety;
    (iv) Liaison with government agencies;
    (v) Spill response operations;
    (vi) Planning;
    (vii) Logistics support; and
    (viii) Finance.
    (5) The responsibilities of, duties of, and functional job 
descriptions for each oil spill management team position within the 
organizational structure identified in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.
    (e) List of contacts. The name, location, and 24-hour contact 
information for the following key individuals and organizations must be 
included in this section or, if more appropriate, in a geographic-
specific appendix and referenced in this section:
    (1) Barge owner or operator.
    (2) Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual for the 
tank barge's area of operation.
    (3) Applicable insurance representatives or surveyors for the 
barge's area(s) of operation.
    (4) Person(s) within the oil spill removal organization to notify 
for activation of that oil spill removal organization for the spill 
scenarios identified in paragraph (j)(5) of this section for the 
barges's area(s) of operation.
    (5) Person(s) within the identified response organization to notify 
for activating that organization to provide:
    (i) The required emergency lightering required by Sec. Sec. 
155.1050(l), 155.1052(g), 155.1230(g), and 155.2230(g), as applicable

[[Page 422]]

to the type of service of the barge(s); and
    (ii) The required salvage and fire fighting required by Sec. Sec. 
155.1050(k), 155.1052(e), 155.1230(e), and 155.2230(e), as applicable to 
the type of service of the barge(s).
    (6) Person(s) to notify for activation of the spill management team 
for the spill response scenarios identified in paragraph (j)(5) of this 
section for the vessel's area of operation.
    (f) Training procedures. This section of the response plan must 
address the training procedures and programs of the barge owner or 
operator to meet the requirements in Sec. 155.1055.
    (g) Exercise procedures. This section of the response plan must 
address the exercise program carried out by the barge owner or operator 
to meet the requirements in Sec. 155.1060.
    (h) Plan review, update, revisions amendment, and appeal procedure. 
This section of the response plan must address--
    (1) The procedures to be followed by the barge owner or operator to 
meet the requirements of Sec. 155.1070; and
    (2) The procedures to be followed for any post-discharge review of 
the plan to evaluate and validate its effectiveness.
    (i) On board notification checklist and emergency procedures. This 
portion of the response plan must be maintained in the documentation 
container aboard the unmanned barge. The owner or operator of an 
unmanned tank barge subject to this section shall provide the personnel 
of the towing vessel, fleeting area, or facility that the barge may be 
moored at with the information required by this paragraph and the 
responsibilities that the plan indicates will be carried out by these 
personnel. The on board notification checklist and emergency procedures 
must include--
    (1) The toll-free number of the National Response Center;
    (2) The name and procedures for contacting a primary qualified 
individual and at least one alternate on a 24-hour basis;
    (3) The name, address, and procedure for contacting the vessel's 
owner or operator on a 24-hour basis;
    (4) The list of information to be provided in the notification by 
the reporting personnel;
    (5) A statement of responsibilities of and actions to be taken by 
reporting personnel after an oil discharge or substantial threat of such 
discharge; and
    (6) The information contained in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
    (j) Geographic-specific appendices for each COTP zone in which a 
tank barge operates. A geographic-specific appendix must be included for 
each COTP zone identified. The appendices must include the following 
information or identify the location of such information within the 
plan:
    (1) A list of the geographic areas (port areas, rivers and canals, 
Great Lakes, inland, nearshore, offshore, and open ocean areas) in which 
the barge intends to handle, store, or transport oil within the 
applicable COTP zone.
    (2) The volume and group of oil on which the required level of 
response resources are calculated.
    (3) Required Federal or State notifications applicable to the 
geographic areas in which the barge operates.
    (4) Identification of the qualified individuals.
    (5) Identification of the oil spill removal organization(s) that are 
identified and ensured available, through contract or other approved 
means and the spill management team to provide the response resources 
necessary to respond to the following spill scenarios:
    (i) An average most probable discharge.
    (ii) A maximum most probable discharge.
    (iii) A worst case discharge to the maximum extent practicable.
    (6) The organization(s) identified to meet the provisions of 
paragraph (j)(5) of this section must be capable of providing the 
equipment and supplies necessary to meet the provisions of Sec. Sec. 
155.1050, 155.1052, 155.1230, and 155.2230, as appropriate, and sources 
of trained personnel to continue operation of the equipment and staff 
the oil spill removal organization(s) and spill management team 
identified for the first seven days of the response.
    (7) The appendix must list the response resources and related 
information required under Sec. Sec. 155.1050, 155.1052,

[[Page 423]]

155.1230, 155.2230, and Appendix B of this part, as appropriate.
    (8) If the oil spill removal organization(s) providing the necessary 
response resources has been evaluated by the Coast Guard and their 
capability has been determined to equal or exceed the response 
capability needed by the vessel, the appendix may identify only the 
organization and their applicable classification and not the information 
required in paragraph (j)(7) of this section.
    (9) The appendix must also separately list the companies identified 
to provide the salvage, barge firefighting, lightering, and if 
applicable, dispersant capabilities required in this subpart.
    (k) Appendices for barge-specific information. Because many of the 
tank barges covered by a response plan may be of the same design, this 
information does not need to be repeated provided the plan identifies 
the tank barges to which the same information would apply. The 
information must be part of the response plan unless specifically noted. 
This section must include for each barge covered by the plan the 
following information:
    (1) List of the principal characteristics of the vessel.
    (2) Capacities of all cargo, fuel, lube oil, and ballast tanks.
    (3) The total volumes and cargo group(s) of oil cargo that would be 
involved in the--
    (i) Maximum most probable discharge; and
    (ii) Worst case discharge.
    (4) Diagrams showing location of all tanks aboard the barge.
    (5) General arrangement plan (can be maintained separately providing 
that the location is identified).
    (6) Midships section plan (can be maintained separately providing 
that the location is identified).
    (7) Cargo and fuel piping diagrams and pumping plan, as applicable 
(can be maintained separately providing that the location is 
identified).
    (8) Damage stability data, if applicable.
    (9) Location of cargo and fuel stowage plan for barge(s) (normally 
maintained separately).
    (10) Location of information on the name, description, physical and 
chemical characteristics, health and safety hazards, and spill and 
firefighting procedures for the oil cargo aboard the barge. A material 
safety data sheet meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200, cargo 
information required by 33 CFR 154.310, or equivalent will meet this 
requirement. This information can be maintained separately.



Sec. 155.1045  Response plan requirements for vessels carrying oil as 
a secondary cargo.

    (a) General information and introduction. This section of the 
response plan must include--
    (1) The vessel's name, country of registry, call sign, official 
number, and IMO international number (if applicable). If the plan covers 
multiple vessels, this information must be provided for each vessel;
    (2) The name, address, and procedures for contacting the vessel's 
owner or operator on a 24-hour basis;
    (3) A list of COTP zones in which the vessel intends to handle, 
store, or transport oil;
    (4) A table of contents or index of sufficient detail to permit 
personnel with responsibilities under the response plan to locate the 
specific sections of the plan; and
    (5) A record of change(s) page used to record information on plan 
updates or revisions.
    (6) As required in paragraph (c) of this section, the vessel owner 
or operator must list in his or her plan the total volume of oil carried 
in bulk as cargo.
    (i) For vessels that transfer a portion of their fuel as cargo, 25 
percent of the fuel capacity of the vessel plus the capacity of any oil 
cargo tank(s) will be assumed to be the cargo volume for determining 
applicable response plan requirements unless the vessel owner or 
operator indicates otherwise.
    (ii) A vessel owner or operator can use a volume less than 25 
percent if he or she submits historical data with the plan that 
substantiates the transfer of a lower percentage of its fuel capacity 
between refuelings.
    (b) Notification procedures. This section of the response plan must 
include the following notification information:

[[Page 424]]

    (1) A checklist with all notifications, including telephone or other 
contact numbers, in the order of priority to be made by shipboard or 
shore-based personnel and the information required for those 
notifications. Notifications must include those required by--
    (i) MARPOL 73/78 and 33 CFR part 153; and
    (ii) Any applicable State.
    (2) Identification of the person(s) to be notified of a discharge or 
substantial threat of discharge of oil. If notifications vary due to 
vessel location, the person(s) to be notified also must be identified in 
a geographic-specific appendix. This section must separately identify--
    (i) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by shipboard 
personnel; and
    (ii) The individual(s) or organization(s) to be notified by shore-
based personnel.
    (3) The procedures for notifying the qualified individual and 
alternate qualified individual.
    (4) Descriptions of the primary and, if available, secondary 
communication methods by which the notifications will be made, 
consistent with the requirements in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (5) The information that is to be provided in the initial and any 
follow-up notifications required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (i) The initial notification may be submitted in accordance with IMO 
Resolution A648(16) ``General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and 
Ship Reporting Requirements.'' It must include at least the following 
information:
    (A) Vessel name, country of registry, call sign, IMO international 
number (if applicable), and official number (if any);
    (B) Date and time of the incident;
    (C) Location of the incident;
    (D) Course, speed, and intended track of vessel;
    (E) Radio station(s) and frequencies guarded;
    (F) Date and time of next report;
    (G) Type and quantity of oil on board;
    (H) Nature and detail of defects, deficiencies, and damage (e.g., 
grounding, collision, hull failure, etc.);
    (I) Details of pollution, including estimate of oil discharged or 
threat of discharge;
    (J) Weather and sea conditions on scene;
    (K) Ship size and type;
    (L) Actions taken or planned by persons on scene;
    (M) Current conditions of the vessel; and
    (N) Number of crew and details of injuries, if any.
    (ii) After the transmission of the initial notification, as much as 
possible of the information essential for the protection of the marine 
environment as is appropriate to the incident must be reported to the 
appropriate on-scene coordinator in a follow-up report. This information 
must include--
    (A) Additional details on the type of cargo on board;
    (B) Additional details on the condition of the vessel and ability to 
transfer cargo, ballast, and fuel;
    (C) Additional details on the quantity, extent and movement of the 
pollution and whether the discharge is continuing;
    (D) Any changes in the on-scene weather or sea conditions; and
    (E) Actions being taken with regard to the discharge and the 
movement of the ship.
    (c) Shipboard spill mitigation procedures. This section of the 
response plan must identify the vessel's total volumes of oil carried in 
bulk as cargo and meet the applicable requirements of this paragraph as 
in paragraph (a)(6) of this section.
    (1) For vessels carrying 100 barrels or less of oil in bulk as 
cargo, the plan must include a basic emergency action checklist for 
vessel personnel including notification and actions to be taken to 
prevent or mitigate any discharge or substantial threat of such a 
discharge of oil from the vessel.
    (2) For vessels carrying over 100 barrels of oil but not exceeding 
5,000 barrels of oil in bulk as cargo, the plan must include--
    (i) Detailed information on actions to be taken by vessel personnel 
to prevent

[[Page 425]]

or mitigate any discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge of 
oil from the vessel due to operational activities or casualties;
    (ii) Detailed information on damage control procedures to be 
followed by vessel personnel;
    (iii) Detailed procedures for internal or external transfer of oil 
in bulk as cargo in an emergency; and
    (iv) Procedures for use of any equipment carried aboard the vessel 
for spill mitigation.
    (3) For vessels carrying over 5,000 barrels of oil as a secondary 
cargo, the plan must provide the information required by Sec. 
155.1035(c) for shipboard spill mitigation procedures.
    (4) For all vessels, the plan must include responsibilities and 
actions to be taken by vessel personnel, if any, to initiate a response 
and supervise shore-based response resources.
    (d) Shore-based response activities. This section of the response 
plan must include the following information:
    (1) The qualified individual's responsibilities and authority, 
including immediate communication with the Federal on-scene coordinator 
and notification of the oil spill removal organization(s) identified in 
the plan.
    (2) If applicable, procedures for transferring responsibility for 
direction of response activities from vessel personnel to the shore-
based spill management team.
    (3) The procedures for coordinating the actions of the vessel owner 
or operator with the actions of the predesignated Federal on-scene 
coordinator responsible for overseeing or directing those actions.
    (4) The organizational structure that will be used to manage the 
response actions. This structure must include the following functional 
areas and must further include information for key components within 
each functional area:
    (i) Command and control;
    (ii) Public information;
    (iii) Safety;
    (iv) Liaison with government agencies;
    (v) Spill response operations;
    (vi) Planning;
    (vii) Logistics support; and
    (viii) Finance.
    (5) The responsibilities, duties, and functional job description for 
each oil spill management team member within the organizational 
structure identified in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.
    (e) List of contacts. The name, location, and 24-hour contact 
information for the following key individuals or organizations must be 
included in this section or, if more appropriate, in a geographic-
specific appendix and referenced in this section:
    (1) Vessel owner or operator, and if applicable, charterer.
    (2) Qualified individual and alternate qualified individual for the 
vessel's area of operation.
    (3) Vessel's local agent(s), if applicable, for the vessel's area of 
operation.
    (4) Applicable insurance representatives or surveyors for the 
vessel's area of operation.
    (5) Person(s) within the identified oil spill removal 
organization(s) to notify for activation of the oil spill removal 
organization(s) identified under paragraph (i)(3) of this section for 
the vessel's area of operation.
    (6) Person(s) to notify for activation of the spill management team.
    (f) Training procedures. (1) This section of the response plan must 
address the training procedures and programs of the vessel owner or 
operator. The vessel owner or operator shall ensure that--
    (i) All personnel with responsibilities under the plan receive 
training in their assignments and refresher training as necessary, and 
participate in exercises required under paragraph (g) of this section. 
Documented work experience can be used instead of training; and
    (ii) Records of this training are maintained aboard the vessel, at 
the U.S. location of the spill management team, or with the qualified 
individual. The plan must specify where the records are located.
    (2) Nothing in this section relieves the vessel owner or operator 
from responsibility to ensure that all private shore-based response 
personnel are trained to meet the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) standards for emergency response operations in 29 
CFR 1910.120.

[[Page 426]]

    (g) Exercise procedures. This section of the response plan must 
address the exercise program carried out by the vessel owner or operator 
to evaluate the ability of vessel and shore-based personnel to perform 
their identified functions in the plan. The required exercise frequency 
for each category of vessel is as follows:
    (1) For vessels carrying 100 barrels or less of oil as cargo--
    (i) On board spill mitigation procedures and qualified individual 
notification exercises must be conducted annually; and
    (ii) Shore-based oil spill removal organization exercises must be 
conducted biennially.
    (2) For vessels carrying over 100 barrels and up to 5,000 barrels of 
oil in bulk as cargo--
    (i) On board emergency procedures and qualified individual 
notification exercises must be conducted quarterly; and
    (ii) Shore-based oil spill removal organization exercises must be 
conducted annually.
    (3) Vessels carrying over 5,000 barrels of oil in bulk as cargo must 
meet the exercise requirement of Sec. 155.1060.
    (h) Plan review, update, revision, amendment, and appeal procedures. 
This section of the response plan must address--
    (1) The procedures to be followed by the vessel owner or operator to 
meet the requirement of Sec. 155.1070; and
    (2) The procedures to be followed for any post-discharge review of 
the plan to evaluate and validate its effectiveness
    (i) Geographic-specific appendices for each COTP zone in which a 
vessel operates. A geographic-specific appendix must be included for 
each COTP zone identified. The appendix must include the following 
information or identify the location of such information within the 
plan:
    (1) Required Federal or State notifications applicable to the 
geographic areas in which a vessel operates.
    (2) Identification of the qualified individuals.
    (3) A list of the oil spill removal organization(s) and the spill 
management team(s) available to respond to the vessel's worst case oil 
discharge in each COTP zone in which a vessel operates. The oil spill 
removal organization(s) identified must be capable of commencing oil 
spill containment and on-water recovery within the response times listed 
for Tier 1 in Sec. 155.1050(g); providing temporary storage of 
recovered oil; and conducting shoreline protection and cleanup 
operations. An oil spill removal organization may not be identified in 
the plan unless the organization has provided written consent to being 
identified in the plan as an available resource.
    (j) Appendices for vessel-specific information. This section must 
include for each vessel covered by the plan the following information:
    (1) List of the vessel's principal characteristics (i.e., length, 
beam, gross tonnage, etc.).
    (2) Capacities of all cargo, fuel, lube oil, ballast, and fresh 
water tanks.
    (3) The total volume and cargo groups of oil cargo that would be 
involved in the--
    (i) Maximum most probable discharge; and
    (ii) Worst case discharge.
    (4) Diagrams showing location of all tanks.
    (5) Cargo and fuel piping diagrams and pumping plan as applicable. 
These diagrams and plans can be maintained separately aboard the vessel 
providing the response plan identifies the location.
    (6) Location of information on the name, description, physical and 
chemical characteristics, health and safety hazards, and spill and 
firefighting procedures for the oil cargo aboard the vessel. A material 
safety data sheet meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200, cargo 
information required by 33 CFR 154.310, or the equivalent, will meet 
this requirement. This information can be maintained separately on board 
the vessel, providing the response plan identifies the location.

[[Page 427]]



Sec. 155.1050  Response plan development and evaluation criteria for 
vessels carrying groups I through IV petroleum oil as a primary cargo.

    (a) The following criteria must be used to evaluate the operability 
of response resources identified in the response plan for the specified 
operating environment:
    (1) Table 1 of Appendix B of this part.
    (i) The criteria in Table 1 of Appendix B of this part are to be 
used solely for identification of appropriate equipment in a response 
plan.
    (ii) These criteria reflect conditions used for planning purposes to 
select mechanical response equipment and are not conditions that would 
limit response actions or affect normal vessel operations.
    (2) Limitations that are identified in the Area Contingency Plans 
for the COTP zones in which the vessel operates, including--
    (i) Ice conditions;
    (ii) Debris;
    (iii) Temperature ranges; and
    (iv) Weather-related visibility.
    (b) The COTP may reclassify a specific body of water or location 
within the COTP zone. Any reclassifications will be identified in the 
applicable Area Contingency Plan. Reclassifications may be to--
    (1) A more stringent operating environment if the prevailing wave 
conditions exceed the significant wave height criteria during more than 
35 percent of the year; or
    (2) A less stringent operating environment if the prevailing wave 
conditions do not exceed the significant wave height criteria for the 
less stringent operating environment during more than 35 percent of the 
year.
    (c) Response equipment must--
    (1) Meet or exceed the criteria listed in Table 1 of Appendix B of 
this part;
    (2) Be capable of functioning in the applicable operating 
environment; and
    (3) Be appropriate for the petroleum oil carried.
    (d) The owner or operator of a vessel that carries groups I through 
IV petroleum oil as a primary cargo shall identify in the response plan 
and ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved 
means, the response resources that will respond to a discharge up to the 
vessel's average most probable discharge.
    (1) For a vessel that carries groups I through IV petroleum oil as 
its primary cargo, the response resources must include--
    (i) Containment boom in a quantity equal to twice the length of the 
largest vessel involved in the transfer and capable of being deployed at 
the site of oil transfer operations--
    (A) Within 1 hour of detection of a spill, when the transfer is 
conducted between 0 and 12 miles from the nearest shoreline; or
    (B) Within 1 hour plus travel time from the nearest shoreline, based 
on an on-water speed of 5 knots, when the transfer is conducted over 12 
miles up to 200 miles from the nearest shoreline; and
    (ii) Oil recovery devices and recovered oil storage capacity capable 
of being at the transfer site--
    (A) Within 2 hours of the detection of a spill during transfer 
operations, when the transfer is conducted between 0 and 12 miles from 
the nearest shoreline; or
    (B) Within 1 hour plus travel time from the nearest shoreline, based 
on an on-water speed of 5 knots, when the transfer is conducted over 12 
miles up to 200 miles from the nearest shoreline.
    (2) For locations of multiple vessel transfer operations, a vessel 
may identify the same equipment as identified by other vessels, provided 
that each vessel has ensured access to the equipment through contract or 
other approved means. Under these circumstances, prior approval by the 
Coast Guard is not required for temporary changes in the contracted oil 
spill removal organization under Sec. 155.1070(c)(5).
    (3) The owner or operator of a vessel conducting transfer operations 
at a facility required to submit a response plan under 33 CFR 154.1017 
is required to plan for and identify the response resources required in 
paragraph (d)(1) of this section. However, the owner or operator is not 
required to ensure by contract or other means the availability of such 
resources.
    (e) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV 
petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the

[[Page 428]]

availability of, through contract or other approved means, the response 
resources necessary to respond to a discharge up to the vessel's maximum 
most probable discharge volume.
    (1) These resources must be positioned such that they can arrive at 
the scene of a discharge within--
    (i) 12 hours of the discovery of a discharge in higher volume port 
areas and the Great Lakes;
    (ii) 24 hours of the discovery of a discharge in all rivers and 
canals, inland, nearshore and offshore areas; and
    (iii) 24 hours of the discovery of a discharge plus travel time from 
shore for open ocean areas.
    (2) The necessary response resources include sufficient containment 
boom, oil recovery devices, and storage capacity for any recovery of up 
to the maximum most probable discharge planning volume.
    (3) The response plan must identify the storage location, make, 
model, and effective daily recovery capacity of each oil recovery device 
that is identified for plan credit.
    (4) The response resources identified for responding to a maximum 
most probable discharge must be positioned to be capable of meeting the 
planned arrival times in this paragraph. The COTP with jurisdiction over 
the area in which the vessel is operating must be notified whenever the 
identified response resources are not capable of meeting the planned 
arrival times.
    (f) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV 
petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved means, 
the response resources necessary to respond to discharges up to the 
worst case discharge volume of the oil cargo to the maximum extent 
practicable.
    (1) The location of these resources must be suitable to meet the 
response times identified for the applicable geographic area(s) of 
operation and response tier.
    (2) The response resources must be appropriate for--
    (i) The capacity of the vessel;
    (ii) Group(s) of petroleum oil carried as cargo; and
    (iii) The geographic area(s) of vessel operation.
    (3) The resources must include sufficient boom, oil recovery 
devices, and storage capacity to recover the planning volumes.
    (4) The response plan must identify the storage location, make, 
model, and effective daily recovery capacity of each oil recovery device 
that is identified for plan credit.
    (5) The guidelines in Appendix B of this part must be used for 
calculating the quantity of response resources required to respond at 
each tier to the worst case discharge to the maximum extent practicable.
    (6) When determining response resources necessary to meet the 
requirements of this paragraph (f)(6), a portion of those resources must 
be capable of use in close-to-shore response activities in shallow 
water. The following percentages of the response equipment identified 
for the applicable geographic area must be capable of operating in 
waters of 6 feet or less depth:
    (i) Open ocean--none.
    (ii) Offshore--10 percent.
    (iii) Nearshore, inland, Great Lakes, and rivers and canals--20 
percent.
    (7) Response resources identified to meet the requirements of 
paragraph (f)(6) of this section are exempt from the significant wave 
height planning requirements of Table 1 of Appendix B of this part.
    (g) Response equipment identified to respond to a worst case 
discharge must be capable of arriving on scene within the times 
specified in this paragraph for the applicable response tier in a higher 
volume port area, Great Lakes, and in other areas. Response times for 
these tiers from the time of discovery of a discharge are--

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Tier 1        Tier 2        Tier 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher volume port area         12 hrs......  36 hrs......  60 hrs
 (except tankers in Prince
 William Sound covered by Sec.
   155.1135).
Great Lakes...................  18 hrs......  42 hrs......  66 hrs
All other rivers & canals,      24 hrs......  48 hrs......  72 hrs
 inland, nearshore, and
 offshore areas.
Open ocean (plus travel time    24 hrs+.....  48 hrs+.....  72 hrs+
 from shore).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 429]]

    (h) For the purposes of arranging for response resources through 
contract or other approved means, response equipment identified for Tier 
1 plan credit must be capable of being mobilized and enroute to the 
scene of a discharge within 2 hours of notification. The notification 
procedures identified in the plan must provide for notification and 
authorization for mobilization of identified Tier 1 response resources--
    (1) Either directly or through the qualified individual; and
    (2) Within 30 minutes of a discovery of a discharge or substantial 
threat of discharge.
    (i) Response resources identified for Tier 2 and Tier 3 plan credit 
must be capable of arriving on scene within the time listed for the 
applicable tier.
    (j) The response plan for a vessel carrying group II or III 
persistent petroleum oils as a primary cargo that operates in areas with 
year-round pre-approval for dispersant use may request a credit against 
up to 25% of the on-water oil recovery capability for each worst case 
discharge tier necessary to meet the requirements of this subpart. To 
receive this credit, the vessel owner or operator shall identify in the 
response plan and ensure, through contract or other approved means, the 
availability of the dispersants and the necessary resources to apply 
those agents appropriate for the type of oil carried and to monitor the 
effectiveness of the dispersants. The extent of the credit will be based 
on the volumes of dispersant available to sustain operations at 
manufacturers' recommended dosage rates. Dispersant resources identified 
for plan credit must be capable of being on scene within 12 hours of 
discovery of a discharge.
    Note: Identification of these resources does not imply that they 
will be authorized for use. Actual authorization for use during a spill 
response will be governed by the provisions of the National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (40 CFR part 300) and 
the applicable Area Contingency Plan.
    (k)(1) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through 
IV petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan 
and ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved 
means, the following resources:
    (i) A salvage company with expertise and equipment.
    (ii) A company with vessel firefighting capability that will respond 
to casualties in the area(s) in which the vessel will operate.
    (2) Vessel owners or operators must identify intended sources of the 
resources required under paragraph (k)(1) of this section capable of 
being deployed to the areas in which the vessel will operate. 
Provider(s) of these services may not be listed in the plan unless they 
have provided written consent to be listed in the plan as an available 
resource.
    (3) To meet this requirement in a response plan submitted for 
reapproval on or after February 18, 1998, the identified resources must 
be capable of being deployed to the port nearest to the area in which 
the vessel operates within 24 hours of notification.
    (l) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV 
petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved means, 
certain response resources required by Sec. 155.1035(c)(5)(ii) or Sec. 
155.1040(c)(5)(i), as appropriate.
    (1) These resources must include--
    (i) Fendering equipment;
    (ii) Transfer hoses and connection equipment; and
    (iii) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment necessary to offload 
the vessel's largest cargo tank in 24 hours of continuous operation.
    (2) These resources must be capable of reaching the locations in 
which the vessel operates within the stated times following 
notification:
    (i) Inland (except tankers in Prince William Sound covered by Sec. 
155.1130), nearshore, and Great Lakes waters--12 hours.
    (ii) Offshore waters and rivers and canals--18 hours.
    (iii) Open ocean waters--36 hours.
    (3) For barges operating on rivers and canals as defined in this 
subpart, the requirements of this paragraph (l)(3) may be met by listing 
resources capable of meeting the response times in paragraph (l)(2) of 
this section. Such resources may not be identified in a plan unless the 
response organization

[[Page 430]]

has provided written consent to be listed in a plan as an available 
resource.
    (m) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV 
petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved means, 
response resources necessary to perform shoreline protection operations.
    (1) The response resources must include the quantities of boom 
listed in Table 2 of Appendix B of this part, based on the areas in 
which the vessel operates.
    (2) Vessels that intend to offload their cargo at the Louisiana 
Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) marine terminal are not required to comply with 
the requirements of this paragraph when they are within the offshore 
area and under one of the following conditions:
    (i) Approaching or departing the LOOP marine terminal within the 
LOOP Shipping Safety Fairway, as defined in 33 CFR 166.200.
    (ii) Moored at the LOOP marine terminal for the purposes of cargo 
transfer operations or anchored in the designated anchorage area 
awaiting discharge.
    (n) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV 
petroleum oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved means, an 
oil spill removal organization capable of effecting a shoreline cleanup 
operation commensurate with the quantity of emulsified petroleum oil to 
be planned for in shoreline cleanup operations.
    (1) The shoreline cleanup resources required must be determined as 
described in Appendix B of this part.
    (2) Vessels that intend to offload their cargo at the Louisiana 
Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) marine terminal are not required to comply with 
the requirements of this paragraph when they are within the offshore 
area and under one of the following conditions:
    (i) Approaching or departing the LOOP marine terminal within the 
LOOP Shipping Safety Fairway as defined in 33 CFR 166.200.
    (ii) Moored at the LOOP marine terminal for the purposes of cargo 
transfer operations or anchored in the designated anchorage area 
awaiting discharge.
    (o) Appendix B of this part sets out caps that recognize the 
practical and technical limits of response capabilities for which an 
individual vessel owner or operator can contract in advance. Table 6 in 
Appendix B lists the contracting caps that are applicable, as of 
February 18, 1993, and that are slated to apply on February 18, 1998. 
The owner or operator of a vessel carrying groups I through IV petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo, whose required daily recovery capacity exceeds 
the applicable contracting caps in Table 6, shall identify commercial 
sources of additional equipment equal to twice the cap listed for each 
tier or the amount necessary to reach the calculated planning volume, 
whichever is lower, to the extent that this equipment is available. The 
equipment so identified must be capable of arriving on scene no later 
than the applicable tier response times contained in Sec. 155.1050(g) 
or as quickly as the nearest available resource permits. A response plan 
must identify the specific sources, locations, and quantities of this 
additional equipment. No contract is required.
    (p) The Coast Guard will initiate a review of cap increases and 
other requirements contained within this subpart that are scheduled to 
be phased-in over time. Any changes in the requirements of this section 
will occur through a public notice and comment process.
    (1) During this review, the Coast Guard will determine if the 
scheduled increase remains practicable, and will also establish a 
specific cap for 2003. The review will include--
    (i) Increases in skimming efficiencies and design technology;
    (ii) Oil tracking technology;
    (iii) High rate response techniques;
    (iv) Other applicable response technologies; and
    (v) Increases in the availability of private response resources.
    (2) All scheduled future requirements will take effect unless the 
Coast Guard determines that they are not practicable. Scheduled changes 
will be effective on February 18, 1998 and 2003 unless the review of the 
additional requirements have not been completed by

[[Page 431]]

the Coast Guard. If this occurs, the changes will not be effective until 
90 days after publication of a Federal Register notice with the results 
of the review.

    Effective Date Note: By USCG-98-3417, 63 FR 7071, Feb. 12, 1998, 
Sec. 155.1050, paragraph (k)(3), was suspended from Feb. 12, 1998 until 
Feb. 12, 2001. At 66 FR 3878, Jan. 17, 2001, paragraph (k)(3) was 
suspended from Feb. 12, 2001 until Feb. 12, 2004. At 69 FR 3237, Jan. 
23, 2004, paragraph (k)(3) was suspended from Feb. 12, 2004 until Feb. 
12, 2007.



Sec. 155.1052  Response plan development and evaluation criteria for 
vessels carrying group V petroleum oil as a primary cargo.

    (a) Owners and operators of vessels that carry group V petroleum oil 
as a primary cargo must provide information in their plan that 
identifies--
    (1) Procedures and strategies for responding to discharges up to a 
worst case discharge of group V petroleum oils to the maximum extent 
practicable; and
    (2) Sources of the equipment and supplies necessary to locate, 
recover, and mitigate such a discharge.
    (b) Using the criteria in Table 1 of Appendix B of this part, an 
owner or operator of a vessel carrying group V petroleum oil as a 
primary cargo must ensure that any equipment identified in a response 
plan is capable of operating in the conditions expected in the 
geographic area(s) in which the vessel operates. When evaluating the 
operability of equipment, the vessel owner or operator must consider 
limitations that are identified in the Area Contingency Plans for the 
COTP zones in which the vessel operates, including--
    (1) Ice conditions;
    (2) Debris;
    (3) Temperature ranges; and
    (4) Weather-related visibility.
    (c) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying group V petroleum oil 
as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and ensure, 
through contract or other approved means, the availability of required 
equipment, including--
    (1) Sonar, sampling equipment, or other methods for locating the oil 
on the bottom or suspended in the water column;
    (2) Containment boom, sorbent boom, silt curtains, or other methods 
for containing oil that may remain floating on the surface or to reduce 
spreading on the bottom;
    (3) Dredges, pumps, or other equipment necessary to recover oil from 
the bottom and shoreline; and
    (4) Other appropriate equipment necessary to respond to a discharge 
involving the type of oil carried.
    (d) Response resources identified in a response plan under paragraph 
(c) of this section must be capable of being deployed within 24 hours of 
discovery of a discharge to the port nearest the area where the vessel 
is operating. An oil spill removal organization may not be listed in the 
plan unless the oil spill removal organization has provided written 
consent to be listed in the plan as an available resource.
    (e) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying group V petroleum oil 
as a primary cargo shall identify in the response plan and ensure the 
availability of the following resources through contract or other 
approved means--
    (1) A salvage company with appropriate expertise and equipment; and
    (2) A company with vessel firefighting capability that will respond 
to casualties in the area(s) in which the vessel is operating.
    (f) Vessel owners or operators must identify intended sources of the 
resources required under paragraph (e) of this section capable of being 
deployed to the areas in which the vessel will operate. A company may 
not be listed in the plan unless the company has provided written 
consent to be listed in the plan as an available resource. To meet this 
requirement in a response plan submitted for approval or reapproval on 
or after February 18, 1998, the vessel owner or operator must identify 
both the intended sources of this capability and demonstrate that the 
resources are capable of being deployed to the port nearest to the area 
where the vessel operates within 24 hours of discovery of a discharge.
    (g) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying group V petroleum oil 
as a primary cargo shall identify in the response plan and ensure the 
availability of certain resources required by Sec. Sec. 
155.1035(c)(5)(ii) and 155.1040(c)(5)(i),

[[Page 432]]

as applicable, through contract or other approved means.
    (1) Resources must include--
    (i) Fendering equipment;
    (ii) Transfer hoses and connection equipment; and
    (iii) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment necessary to offload 
the vessel's largest cargo tank in 24 hours of continuous operation.
    (2) Resources must be capable of reaching the locations in which the 
vessel operates within the stated times following notification:
    (i) Inland, nearshore, and Great Lakes waters--12 hours.
    (ii) Offshore waters and rivers and canals--18 hours.
    (iii) Open ocean waters--36 hours.
    (3) For barges operating in rivers and canals as defined in this 
subpart, the requirements of this paragraph (g)(3) may be met by listing 
resources capable of being deployed in an area within the response times 
in paragraph (g)(2) of this section. A vessel owner or operator may not 
identify such resources in a plan unless the response organization has 
provided written consent to be identified in a plan as an available 
resource.

    Effective Date Note: By USCG-98-3417, 63 FR 7071, Feb. 12, 1998, 
Sec. 155.1052, the last sentence in paragraph (f) was suspended from 
Feb. 12, 1998 until Feb. 12, 2001. At 66 FR 3878, Jan. 17, 2001, the 
last sentence in paragraph (f) was suspended from Feb. 12, 2001 until 
Feb. 12, 2004. At 69 FR 3237, Jan. 23, 2004, the last sentence in 
paragraph (f) was suspended from Feb. 12, 2004 until Feb. 12, 2007.



Sec. 155.1055  Training.

    (a) A response plan submitted to meet the requirements of Sec. 
155.1035 must identify the training to be provided to persons having 
responsibilities under the plan, including members of the vessel crew, 
the qualified individual, and the spill management team. A response plan 
submitted to meet the requirements of Sec. 155.1040 must identify the 
training to be provided to the spill management team, the qualified 
individual, and other personnel in Sec. 155.1040 with specific 
responsibilities under the plan including tankermen and members of the 
towing vessel crew. The training program must differentiate between that 
training provided to vessel personnel and that training provided to 
shore-based personnel. Appendix C of this part provides additional 
guidance regarding training.
    (b) A vessel owner or operator shall ensure the maintenance of 
records sufficient to document this training and make them available for 
inspection upon request by the Coast Guard. Records must be maintained 
for 3 years following completion of training. The response plan must 
identify the location of training records, which must be--
    (1) On board the vessel;
    (2) With the qualified individual; or
    (3) At a U.S. location of the spill management team.
    (c) A vessel owner or operator may identify equivalent work 
experience which fulfills specific training requirements.
    (d) The vessel owner or operator shall ensure that any oil spill 
removal organization identified in a response plan to meet the 
requirements of this part maintains records sufficient to document 
training for the organization's personnel. These records must be 
available for inspection upon request by the Coast Guard. Records must 
be maintained for 3 years following completion of training.
    (e) Nothing in this section relieves the vessel owner or operator 
from the responsibility to ensure that all private shore-based response 
personnel are trained to meet the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) standards for emergency response operations in 29 
CFR 1910.120.
    (f) A training plan may be prepared in accordance with Training 
Elements for Oil Spill Response to satisfy the requirements of this 
section.



Sec. 155.1060  Exercises.

    (a) A vessel owner or operator required by Sec. Sec. 155.1035 and 
155.1040 to have a response plan shall conduct exercise as necessary to 
ensure that the plan will function in an emergency. Both announced and 
unannounced exercises must be included. The following are the minimum 
exercise requirements for vessels covered by this subpart:
    (1) Qualified individual notification exercises, which must be 
conducted quarterly;

[[Page 433]]

    (2) Emergency procedures exercises, which must be conducted 
quarterly;
    (3) Shore-based spill management team tabletop exercises, which must 
be conducted annually. In a triennial period, at least one of these 
exercises must include a worst case discharge scenario;
    (4) Oil spill removal organization equipment deployment exercises, 
which must be conducted annually; and
    (5) An exercise of the entire response plan, which must be conducted 
every 3 years. The vessel owner or operator shall design the exercise 
program so that all components of the response plan are exercised at 
least once every 3 years. All of the components do not have to be 
exercised at one time; they may be exercised over the 3-year period 
through the required exercises or through an area exercise.
    (b) Annually, at least one of the exercises listed in Sec. 
155.1060(a) (2) and (4) must be unannounced. An unannounced exercise is 
one in which the personnel participating in the exercise have not been 
advised in advance of the exact date, time, and scenario of the 
exercise.
    (c) A vessel owner or operator shall participate in unannounced 
exercises, as directed by the Coast Guard COTP. The objectives of the 
unannounced exercises will be to evaluate notifications and equipment 
deployment for responses to average most probable discharge spill 
scenarios outlined in vessel response plans. The unannounced exercises 
will be limited to four per area per year, an area being that geographic 
area for which a separate and distinct Area Contingency Plan has been 
prepared, as described in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. After 
participating in an unannounced exercise directed by a COTP, the owner 
or operator will not be required to participate in another unannounced 
exercise for at least 3 years from the date of the exercise.
    (d) A vessel owner or operator shall participate in area exercises 
as directed by the applicable on-scene coordinator. The area exercises 
will involve equipment deployment to respond to the spill scenario 
developed by the exercise design team, of which the vessel owner or 
operator will be a member. After participating in an area exercise, a 
vessel owner or operator will not be required to participate in another 
area exercise for at least 6 years.
    (e) The vessel owner or operator shall ensure that adequate exercise 
records are maintained. The following records are required:
    (1) On board the vessel, records of the qualified individual 
notification exercises and the emergency procedures exercises. These 
exercises may be documented in the ship's log or may be kept in a 
separate exercise log.
    (2) At the United States' location of either the qualified 
individual, spill management team, the vessel owner or operator, or the 
oil spill removal organization, records of exercises conducted off the 
vessel. Response plans must indicate the location of these records.
    (f) Records described in paragraph (e) of this section must be 
maintained and available to the Coast Guard for 3 years following 
completion of the exercises.
    (g) The response plan submitted to meet the requirements of this 
subpart must specify the planned exercise program. The plan shall detail 
the exercise program, including the types of exercises, frequencies, 
scopes, objectives, and the scheme for exercising the entire response 
plan every 3 years.
    (h) Compliance with the National Preparedness for Response Exercise 
Program (PREP) Guidelines will satisfy the vessel response plan exercise 
requirements. These guidelines are available from the TASC DEPT 
Warehouse, 33141Q 75th Avenue, Landover, MD 20875 (fax: 301-386-5394, 
stock number USCG-X0241). Compliance with an alternative program that 
meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and has been 
approved under Sec. 155.1065 will also satisfy the vessel response plan 
exercise requirements.

    Note to paragraph (h): The PREP guidelines are available online at 
http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf1a/198001--web.pdf

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by 68 FR 37741, June 
25, 2003]

[[Page 434]]



Sec. 155.1062  Inspection and maintenance of response resources.

    (a) The owner or operator of a vessel required to submit a response 
plan under this part must ensure that--
    (1) Containment booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major equipment 
listed or referenced in the plan are periodically inspected and 
maintained in good operating condition, in accordance with 
manufacturer's recommendations and best commercial practices; and
    (2) All inspections and maintenance are documented and that these 
records are maintained for 3 years.
    (b) For equipment which must be inspected and maintained under this 
section the Coast Guard may--
    (1) Verify that the equipment inventories exist as represented;
    (2) Verify the existence of records required under this section;
    (3) Verify that the records of inspection and maintenance reflect 
the actual condition of any equipment listed or referenced; and
    (4) Inspect and require operational tests of equipment.
    (c) This section does not apply to containment booms, skimmers, 
vessels, and other major equipment listed or referenced in the plan and 
ensured available through the written consent of an oil spill removal 
organization, as described in the definition of ``contract or other 
approved means'' at Sec. 155.1020.



Sec. 155.1065  Procedures for plan submission, approval, requests for 
acceptance of alternative planning criteria, and appeal.

    (a) An owner or operator of a vessel to which this subpart applies 
shall submit one complete English language copy of a vessel response 
plan to Commandant (G-MOR), Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001. The plan must be submitted at least 60 days 
before the vessel intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or 
lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
    (b) The owner or operator shall include a statement certifying that 
the plan meets the applicable requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G of 
this part and shall include a statement indicating whether the vessel(s) 
covered by the plan are manned vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo, 
unmanned vessels carrying oil as a primary cargo, or vessels carrying 
oil as a secondary cargo.
    (c) If the Coast Guard determines that the plan meets all 
requirements of this subpart, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel 
owner or operator with an approval letter. The plan will be valid for a 
period of up to 5 years from the date of approval.
    (d) If the Coast Guard reviews the plan and determines that it does 
not meet all of the requirements, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel 
owner or operator of the response plan's deficiencies. The vessel owner 
or operator must then resubmit the revised plan, or corrected portions 
of the plan, within the time period specified in the written notice 
provided by the Coast Guard.
    (e) For those vessels temporarily authorized under Sec. 155.1025 to 
operate without an approved plan pending formal Coast Guard approval, 
the deficiency provisions of Sec. 155.1070(c), (d), and (e) will also 
apply.
    (f) When the owner or operator of a vessel believes that national 
planning criteria contained elsewhere in this part are inappropriate to 
the vessel for the areas in which it is intended to operate, the owner 
or operator may request acceptance of alternative planning criteria by 
the Coast Guard. Submission of a request must be made 90 days before the 
vessel intends to operate under the proposed alternative and must be 
forwarded to the COTP for the geographic area(s) affected.
    (g) An owner or operator of a United States flag vessel may meet the 
response plan requirements of Regulation 26 of MARPOL 73/78 and subparts 
D, E, F, and G of this part by stating in writing, according to the 
provisions of Sec. 155.1030(j), that the plan submitted is intended to 
address the requirements of both Regulation 26 of MARPOL 73/78 and the 
requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G of this part.
    (h) Within 21 days of notification that a plan is not approved, the 
vessel owner or operator may appeal that determination to the Assistant 
Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection. 
This

[[Page 435]]

appeal must be submitted in writing to Commandant (G-M), Coast Guard, 
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 
33666, June 28, 1996; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33364, June 19, 1997; USCG-2002-
12471, 67 FR 41333, June 18, 2002]



Sec. 155.1070  Procedures for plan review, revision, amendment, and 
appeal.

    (a) A vessel response plan must be reviewed annually by the owner or 
operator.
    (1) This review must occur within 1 month of the anniversary date of 
Coast Guard approval of the plan.
    (2) The owner or operator shall submit any plan amendments to the 
Coast Guard for information or approval. Revisions to a plan must 
include a cover page that provides a summary of the changes being made 
and the pages being affected. Revised pages must further include the 
number of the revision and date of that revision.
    (3) Any required changes must be entered in the plan and noted on 
the record of changes page. The completion of the annual review must 
also be noted on the record of changes page.
    (b) The owner or operator of a vessel covered by subparts D, E, F, 
and G of this part shall resubmit the entire plan to the Coast Guard for 
approval--
    (1) Six months before the end of the Coast Guard approval period 
identified in Sec. 155.1065(c); and
    (2) Whenever there is a change in the owner or operator of the 
vessel, if that owner or operator provided the certifying statement 
required by Sec. 155.1065(b). If this change occurs, a new statement 
certifying that the plan continues to meet the applicable requirements 
of subparts D, E, F, and G of this part must be submitted.
    (c) Revisions or amendments to an approved response plan must be 
submitted for approval by the vessel's owner or operator whenever there 
is--
    (1) A change in the owner or operator of the vessel, if that owner 
or operator is not the one who provided the certifying statement 
required by Sec. 155.1065(b);
    (2) A change in the vessel's operating area that includes ports or 
geographic area(s) not covered by the previously approved plan. A vessel 
may operate in an area not covered in a previously approved plan upon 
receipt of written acknowledgment by the Coast Guard that a new 
geographic-specific appendix has been submitted for approval by the 
vessel's owner or operator and the certification required in Sec. 
155.1025(c) has been provided;
    (3) A significant change in the vessel's configuration that affects 
the information included in the response plan;
    (4) A change in the type of oil cargo carried aboard (oil group) 
that affects the required response resources, except as authorized by 
the COTP for purposes of assisting in an oil spill response activity;
    (5) A change in the identification of the oil spill removal 
organization(s) or other response related resource required by 
Sec. Sec. 155.1050, 155.1052, 155.1230, or 155.2230, as appropriate, 
except an oil spill removal organization required by Sec. 155.1050(d) 
which may be changed on a case by case basis for an oil spill removal 
organization previously classified by the Coast Guard which has been 
ensured available by contract or other approved means;
    (6) A significant change in the vessel's emergency response 
procedures;
    (7) A change in the qualified individual;
    (8) The addition of a vessel to the plan. This change must include 
the vessel-specific appendix required by this subpart and the owner or 
operator's certification required in Sec. 155.1025(c); or
    (9) Any other significant changes that affect the implementation of 
the plan.
    (d) Thirty days in advance of operation, the owner or operator shall 
submit any revision or amendments identified in paragraph (c) of this 
section. The certification required in Sec. 155.1065(b) must be 
submitted along with the revisions or amendments.
    (e) The Coast Guard may require a vessel owner or operator to revise 
a response plan at any time if it is determined that the response plan 
does not meet the requirements of this subpart. The Coast Guard will 
notify the vessel owner or operator in writing of any deficiencies and 
any operating restrictions. Deficiencies must be corrected

[[Page 436]]

and submitted for acceptance within the time period specified in the 
written notice provided by the Coast Guard or the plan will be declared 
invalid and any further storage, transfer, handling, transporting or 
lightering of oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United 
States will be in violation of section 311(j)(5)(E) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(5)(E)).
    (f) A vessel owner or operator who disagrees with a deficiency 
determination may submit a petition for reconsideration to Assistant 
Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, 
Commandant (G-M), Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001 within the time period required for compliance 
or within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Coast Guard notice of a 
deficiency determination, whichever is less. After considering all 
relevant material presented, the Coast Guard will notify the vessel 
owner or operator of the final decision.
    (1) Unless the vessel owner or operator petitions for 
reconsideration of the Coast Guard's decision, the vessel's owner or 
operator must correct the response plan deficiencies within the period 
specified in the Coast Guard's initial determination.
    (2) If the vessel owner or operator petitions the Coast Guard for 
reconsideration, the effective date of the Coast Guard notice of 
deficiency determination may be delayed pending a decision by the Coast 
Guard. Petitions to the Coast Guard must be submitted in writing, via 
the Coast Guard official who issued the requirement to amend the 
response plan, within 5 days of receipt of the notice.
    (g) Except as required in paragraph (c) of this section, amendments 
to personnel and telephone number lists included in the response plan do 
not require prior Coast Guard approval.
    (h) The Coast Guard and all other holders of the response plan shall 
be advised of any revisions to personnel and telephone numbers and 
provided a copy of these revisions as they occur.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1081, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 
33666, June 28, 1996; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33364, June 19, 1997; USCG-2002-
12471, 67 FR 41333, June 18, 2002]



  Subpart E_Additional Response Plan Requirements for Tankers Loading 
     Cargo at a Facility Permitted Under the Trans-Alaska Pipeline 
                            Authorization Act

    Source: CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1097, Jan. 12, 1996, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.1110  Purpose and applicability.

    (a) This subpart establishes oil spill response planning 
requirements for an owner or operator of a tanker loading cargo at a 
facility permitted under the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act 
(TAPAA) (43 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.) in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 
addition to the requirements of subpart D of this part. The requirements 
of this subpart are intended for use in developing response plans and 
identifying response resources during the planning process, they are not 
performance standards.
    (b) The information required in this subpart must be included in a 
Prince William Sound geographic-specific appendix to the vessel response 
plan required by subpart D of this part.



Sec. 155.1115  Definitions.

    Except as provided in this section, the definitions in Sec. 
155.1020 apply to this subpart.
    Prince William Sound means all State and Federal waters within 
Prince William Sound, Alaska, including the approach to Hinchinbrook 
Entrance out to and encompassing Seal Rock.



Sec. 155.1120  Operating restrictions and interim operating authorization.

    The owner or operator of a tanker to which this subpart applies may 
not load cargo at a facility permitted under the Trans-Alaska Pipeline 
Authorization Act unless the requirements of this subpart and Sec. 
155.1025 have been met. The owner or operator of such a tanker shall 
certify to the

[[Page 437]]

Coast Guard that they have provided, through an oil spill removal 
organization required by Sec. 155.1125, the necessary response 
resources to remove, to the maximum extent practicable, a worst case 
discharge or a discharge of 200,000 barrels of oil, whichever is 
greater, in Prince William Sound, AK.



Sec. 155.1125  Additional response plan requirements.

    (a) The owner or operator of a tanker subject to this subpart shall 
include the requirements of this section in the Prince William Sound 
geographic-specific appendix required by subpart D of this part.
    (1) The response plan must include identification of an oil spill 
removal organization that shall--
    (i) Perform response activities;
    (ii) Provide oil spill removal and containment training, including 
training in the operation of prepositioned equipment, for personnel, 
including local residents and fishermen, from the following locations in 
Prince William Sound--
    (A) Valdez;
    (B) Tatitlek;
    (C) Cordova;
    (D) Whittier;
    (E) Chenega; and
    (F) Fish hatcheries located at Port San Juan, Main Bay, Esther 
Island, Cannery Creek, and Solomon Gulch.
    (iii) Consist of sufficient numbers of trained personnel with the 
necessary technical skills to remove, to the maximum extent practicable, 
a worst case discharge or a discharge of 200,000 barrels of oil, 
whichever is greater;
    (iv) Provide a plan for training sufficient numbers of additional 
personnel to remove, to the maximum extent practicable, a worst case 
discharge or a discharge of 200,000 barrels of oil, whichever is 
greater; and
    (v) Address the responsibilities required in Sec. 155.1035(d)(4).
    (2) The response plan must include exercise procedures that must--
    (i) Provide two exercises of the oil spill removal organization each 
year to ensure prepositioned equipment and trained personnel required 
under this subpart perform effectively;
    (ii) Provide for both announced and unannounced exercises; and
    (iii) Provide for exercises that test either the entire appendix or 
individual components.
    (3) The response plan must identify a testing, inspection, and 
certification program for the prepositioned response equipment required 
in Sec. 155.1130 that must provide for--
    (i) Annual testing and equipment inspection in accordance with the 
manufacturer's recommended procedures, to include--
    (A) Start-up and running under load of all electrical motors, pumps, 
power packs, air compressors, internal combustion engines, and oil 
recovery devices; and
    (B) Removal of no less than one-third of required boom from storage 
annually, such that all boom will have been removed and examined within 
a period of 3 years;
    (ii) Records of equipment tests and inspection; and
    (iii) Use of an independent entity to certify that the equipment is 
on-site and in good operating condition and that required tests and 
inspections have been performed. The independent entity must have 
appropriate training and expertise to provide this certification.
    (4) The response plan must identify and give the location of the 
prepositioned response equipment required in Sec. 155.1130 including 
the make, model, and effective daily recovery rate of each oil recovery 
resource.
    (b) The owner or operator shall submit to the COTP for approval, no 
later than September 30th of each calendar year, a schedule for the 
training and exercises required by the geographic-specific appendix for 
Prince William Sound for the following calendar year.
    (c) All records required by this section must be available for 
inspection by the Coast Guard and must be maintained for a period of 3 
years.



Sec. 155.1130  Requirements for prepositioned response equipment.

    The owner or operator of a tanker subject to this subpart shall 
provide the following prepositioned response equipment, located within 
Prince William Sound, in addition to that required by Sec. 155.1035:

[[Page 438]]

    (a) On-water recovery equipment with a minimum effective daily 
recovery capacity of 30,000 barrels, capable of being on scene within 6 
hours of notification of a discharge.
    (b) On-water storage capacity of 100,000 barrels, capable of being 
on scene within 6 hours of notification of a discharge.
    (c) Additional on-water recovery equipment with a minimum effective 
daily recovery capacity of 40,000 barrels capable of being on scene 
within 18 hours of notification of a discharge.
    (d) On-water storage capacity of 300,000 barrels for recovered oily 
material, capable of being on scene within 24 hours of notification of a 
discharge.
    (e) On-water oil recovery devices and storage equipment located in 
communities and at strategic locations.
    (f) For sufficient protection of the environment in the locations 
identified in Sec. 155.1125(a)(1)(ii)--
    (1) Boom appropriate for the specific locations;
    (2) Sufficient boats to deploy boom and sorbents;
    (3) Sorbents including booms, sweeps, pads, blankets, drums and 
plastic bags;
    (4) Personnel protective clothing and equipment;
    (5) Survival equipment;
    (6) First aid supplies;
    (7) Buckets, shovels, and various other tools;
    (8) Decontamination equipment;
    (9) Shoreline cleanup equipment;
    (10) Mooring equipment;
    (11) Anchored buoys at appropriate locations to facilitate the 
positioning of defensive boom; and
    (12) Other appropriate removal equipment for the protection of the 
environment as identified by the COTP.
    (g) For each oil-laden tanker, an escorting response vessel which is 
fitted with skimming and on board storage capabilities practicable for 
the initial oil recovery planned for a cleanup operation, as identified 
by the oil spill removal organization.
    (h) Lightering resources required in Sec. 155.1050(l) capable of 
arriving on scene within 6 hours of notification of a discharge.



Sec. 155.1135  Response plan development and evaluation criteria.

    For tankers subject to this subpart, the following response times 
must be used in determining the on-scene arrival time in Prince William 
Sound, for the response resources required by Sec. 155.1050:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Tier 1        Tier 2        Tier 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prince William Sound..........  12 hrs......  24 hrs......  36 hrs
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sec. 155.1145  Submission and approval procedures.

    An appendix prepared under this subpart must be submitted and 
approved in accordance with Sec. 155.1065.



Sec. 155.1150  Plan revision and amendment procedures.

    An appendix prepared and submitted under this subpart must be 
revised and amended, as necessary, in accordance with Sec. 155.1070.



 Subpart F_Response plan requirements for vessels carrying animal fats 
                  and vegetable oils as a primary cargo

    Source: CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1098, Jan. 12, 1996, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.1210  Purpose and applicability.

    This subpart establishes oil spill response planning requirements 
for an owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats and vegetable 
oils as a primary cargo. The requirements of this subpart are intended 
for use in developing response plans and identifying response resources 
during the planning process. They are not performance standards.



Sec. 155.1225  Response plan submission requirements.

    An owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats and vegetable 
oils as a primary cargo shall submit a response plan in accordance with 
the requirements of this subpart, and with all sections of subpart D of 
this part, except Sec. Sec. 155.1050 and 155.1052.

[[Page 439]]



Sec. 155.1230  Response plan development and evaluation criteria.

    (a) Owners and operators of vessels that carry animal fats or 
vegetable oils as a primary cargo must provide information in their plan 
that identifies--
    (1) Procedures and strategies for responding to a worst case 
discharge of animal fats or vegetable oils to the maximum extent 
practicable; and
    (2) Sources of the equipment and supplies necessary to contain, 
recover, and mitigate such a discharge.
    (b) An owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats or 
vegetable oils as a primary cargo must ensure that any equipment 
identified in a response plan is capable of operating in the conditions 
expected in the geographic area(s) in which the vessel operates using 
the criteria in Table 1 of Appendix B of this part. When evaluating the 
operability of equipment, the vessel owner or operator must consider 
limitations that are identified in the Area Contingency Plans for the 
COTP zones in which the vessel operates, including--
    (1) Ice conditions;
    (2) Debris;
    (3) Temperature ranges; and
    (4) Weather-related visibility.
    (c) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats or 
vegetable oils as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure, through contract or other approved means, the availability of 
required equipment including--
    (1) Containment boom, sorbent boom, or other methods for containing 
oil floating on the surface or to protect shorelines from impact;
    (2) Oil recovery devices appropriate for the type of animal fats or 
vegetable oils carried; and
    (3) Other appropriate equipment necessary to respond to a discharge 
involving the type of animal fats or vegetable oils carried.
    (d) Response resources identified in a response plan under paragraph 
(c) of this section must be capable of arriving on-scene within the 
applicable Tier 1 response times specified in this paragraph. An oil 
spill removal organization may not be listed in the plan unless the 
organization has provided written consent to be listed in the plan as an 
available resource. Response times from the time of discovery of a 
discharge are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Tier 1        Tier 2        Tier 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher volume port area.......  12 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
Great Lakes...................  18 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
All other rivers and canals,    24 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
 inland, nearshore, and
 offshore areaas.
Open ocean (plus travel time    24 hrs+.....  N/A.........  N/A
 from shore).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats or 
vegetable oils as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and 
ensure the availability of the following resources through contract or 
other approved means:
    (1) A salvage company with appropriate expertise and equipment.
    (2) A company with vessel firefighting capability that will respond 
to casualties in the area(s) in which the vessel is operating.
    (f) Vessel owners or operators must identify intended sources of the 
resources required under paragraph (e) of this section capable of being 
deployed to the areas in which the vessel will operate. A company may 
not be listed in the plan unless the company has provided written 
consent to be listed in the plan as an available resource. To meet this 
requirement in a response plan submitted for approval or reapproval on 
or after February 18, 1998, the vessel owner or operator must identify 
both the intended sources of this capability and demonstrate that the 
resources are capable of being deployed to the port nearest to the area 
where the vessel operates within 24 hours of discovery of a discharge.
    (g) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying animal fats or 
vegetable oils as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan, 
and ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved 
means, certain resources required by subpart D, Sec. 155.1035(c)(5)(ii) 
and Sec. 155.1040(c)(5)(i), as applicable.
    (1) Resources must include--
    (i) Fendering equipment;
    (ii) Transfer hoses and connection equipment; and

[[Page 440]]

    (iii) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment necessary to offload 
the vessel's largest cargo tank in 24 hours of continuous operation.
    (2) Resources must be capable of reaching the locations in which the 
vessel operates within the stated times following notification:
    (i) Inland, nearshore, and Great Lakes waters--12 hours.
    (ii) Offshore waters and rivers and canals--18 hours.
    (iii) Open ocean waters--36 hours.
    (3) For barges operating in rivers and canals as defined in this 
subpart, the requirements of this paragraph (g)(3) may be met by listing 
resources capable of being deployed in an area within the response times 
in paragraph (g)(2) of this section. A vessel owner or operator may not 
identify such resources in a plan unless the response organization has 
provided written consent to be identified in a plan as an available 
resource.
    (h) The response plan for a vessel that is located in any 
environment with year-round preapproval for use of dispersants suitable 
for animal fats and vegetable oils and that handles, stores, or 
transports animal fats or vegetable oils may request a credit for up to 
25 percent of the worst case planning volume set forth by subpart D of 
this part. To receive this credit, the vessel owner or operator must 
identify in the plan and ensure, by contract or other approved means, 
the availability of specified resources to apply the dispersants and to 
monitor their effectiveness. To extent of the credit will be based on 
the volumes of the dispersant available to sustain operations at the 
manufacturers' recommended dosage rates. Other spill mitigation 
techniques, including mechanical dispersal, may be identified in the 
response plan, provided they are in accordance with the NCP and the 
applicable ACP. Resources identified for plan credit should be capable 
of being on scene within 12 hours of a discovery of a discharge. 
Identification of these resources does not imply that they will be 
authorized for use. Actual authorization for use during the spill 
response will be governed by the provisions of the NCP and the 
applicable ACP.



  Subpart G_Response Plan Requirements for Vessels Carrying Other Non-
                    Petroleum Oils as a Primary Cargo

    Source: CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1099, Jan. 12, 1996, unless otherwise 
noted.



Sec. 155.2210  Purpose and applicability.

    This subpart establishes oil spill response planning requirements 
for an owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum oils 
as a primary cargo. The requirements of this subpart are intended for 
use in developing response plans and identifying response resources 
during the planning process. They are not performance standards.



Sec. 155.2225  Response plan submission requirements.

    An owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum oils 
as a primary cargo shall submit a response plan in accordance with the 
requirements of this subpart, and with all sections of subpart D of this 
part, except Sec. Sec. 155.1050 and 155.1052.



Sec. 155.2230  Response plan development and evaluation criteria.

    (a) Owners and operators of vessels that carry other non-petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo must provide information in their plan that 
identifies--
    (1) Procedures and strategies for responding to a worst case 
discharge of other non-petroleum oils to the maximum extent practicable; 
and
    (2) Sources of the equipment and supplies necessary to contain, 
recover, and mitigate such a discharge.
    (b) An owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo must ensure that any equipment identified in a 
response plan is capable of operating in the conditions expected in the 
geographic area(s) in which the vessel operates using the criteria in 
Table 1 of Appendix B of this part. When evaluating the operability of 
equipment, the vessel owner or operator must consider limitations that 
are identified in the Area Contingency Plans for the COTP zones in which 
the vessel operates, including--
    (1) Ice conditions;

[[Page 441]]

    (2) Debris;
    (3) Temperature ranges; and
    (4) Weather-related visibility.
    (c) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and ensure, 
through contract or other approved means, the availability of required 
equipment including--
    (1) Containment boom, sorbent boom, or other methods for containing 
oil floating on the surface or to protect shorelines from impact;
    (2) Oil recovery devices appropriate for the type of other non-
petroleum oil carried; and
    (3) Other appropriate equipment necessary to respond to a discharge 
involving the type of other non-petroleum oil carried.
    (d) Response resources identified in a response plan under paragraph 
(c) of this section must be capable of arriving on-scene within the 
applicable Tier 1 response times specified in this paragraph. An oil 
spill removal organization may not be listed in the plan unless the 
organization has provided written consent to be listed in the plan as an 
available resource. Response times from the time of discovery of a 
discharge are as follow:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Tier 1        Tier 2        Tier 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher volume port area.......  12 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
Great Lakes...................  18 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
All other rivers and canals,    24 hrs......  N/A.........  N/A
 inland, nearshore, and
 offshore areas.
Open ocean (plus travel time    24 hrs+.....  N/A.........  N/A
 from shore).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan and ensure the 
availability of the following resources through contract or other 
approved means:
    (1) A salvage company with appropriate expertise and equipment.
    (2) A company with vessel firefighting capability that will respond 
to casualties in the area(s) in which the vessel is operating.
    (f) Vessel owners or operators must identify intended sources of the 
resources required under paragraph (e) of this section capable of being 
deployed to the areas in which the vessel will operate. A company may 
not be listed in the plan unless the company has provided written 
consent to be listed in the plan as an available resource. To meet this 
requirement in a response plan submitted for approval or reapproval on 
or after February 18, 1998, the vessel owner or operator must identify 
both the intended sources of this capability and demonstrate that the 
resources are capable of being deployed to the port nearest to the area 
where the vessel operates within 24 hours of discovery of a discharge.
    (g) The owner or operator of a vessel carrying other non-petroleum 
oil as a primary cargo must identify in the response plan, and ensure 
the availability of, through contract or other approved means, certain 
resources required by subpart D of this part, Sec. 155.1035(c)(5)(ii) 
and Sec. 155.1040(c)(5)(i) of this part, as applicable.
    (1) Resources must include--
    (i) Fendering equipment;
    (ii) Transfer hoses and connection equipment; and
    (iii) Portable pumps and ancillary equipment necessary to offload 
the vessel's largest cargo tank in 24 hours of continuous operation.
    (2) Resources must be capable of reaching the locations in which the 
vessel operates within the stated times following notification:
    (i) Inland, nearshore, and Great Lakes waters--12 hours.
    (ii) Offshore waters and rivers and canals--18 hours.
    (iii) Open ocean waters--36 hours.
    (3) For barges operating in rivers and canals as defined in this 
subpart, the requirements of this paragraph (g)(3) may be met by listing 
resources capable of being deployed in an area within the response times 
in paragraph (g)(2) of this section. A vessel owner or operator may not 
identify such resources in a plan unless the response organization has 
provided written consent to be identified in a plan as an available 
resource.
    (h) The response plan for a vessel that is located in any 
environment with year-round preapproval for use of dispersants and that 
handles, stores, or transports other non-petroleum oils

[[Page 442]]

may request a credit for up to 25 percent of the worst case planning 
volume set forth by subpart D of this part. To receive this credit, the 
vessel owner or operator must identify in the plan and ensure, by 
contract or other approved means, the availability of specified 
resources to apply the dispersants and to monitor their effectiveness. 
The extent of the credit will be based on the volumes of the dispersant 
available to sustain operations at the manufacturers' recommended dosage 
rates. Identification of these resources does not imply that they will 
be authorized for use. Actual authorization for use during a spill 
response will be governed by the provisions of the NCP and the 
applicable ACP.

       Appendix A to Part 155--Specifications for Shore Connection

          [See Sec. Sec. 340, 350, 370 and 380 of this Part]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Item                    Description          Dimension
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  Outside diameter..  215 mm. (8 in.).
2...............................  Inside diameter...  According to pipe
                                                       outside diameter.
3...............................  Bolt circle         183 mm. (7 \3/16\
                                   diameter.           in.).
4...............................  Slots in flange...  6 holes 22 mm. (\7/
                                                       8\ in.) in
                                                       diameter shall be
                                                       equidistantly
                                                       placed on a bolt
                                                       circle of the
                                                       above diameter,
                                                       slotted to the
                                                       flange periphery.
                                                       The slot width is
                                                       to be 22 mm. (\7/
                                                       8\ in.).
5...............................  Flange thickness..  20 mm. (\3/4\
                                                       in.).
6...............................  Bolts and nuts....  6, each of 20 mm.
                                                       (\3/4\ in.) in
                                                       diameter and of
                                                       suitable length.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The flange must be of steel having a flat face, with a gasket of
  oilproof material, and must be suitable for a service pressure of 6
  kg./cm.2 (85 p.s.i.).
The steel materials used must meet the material specifications of
  standard B16.5, Steel Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings of the
  American National Standards Institute. (See Sec. 154.106 of this
  chapter.)


[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7176, Jan. 31, 1980]

  Appendix B to Part 155--Determining and Evaluating Required Response 
                   Resources for Vessel Response Plans

                               1. Purpose

    1.1 The purpose of this appendix is to describe the procedures for 
identifying response resources to meet the requirements of subparts D, 
E, F, and G of this part. These guidelines will be used by the vessel 
owner or operator in preparing the response plan and by the Coast Guard 
to review vessel response plans. Response plans submitted under subparts 
F and G of this part will be evaluated under the guidelines in section 2 
and Table 1 of this appendix.

                 2. Equipment Operability and Readiness

    2.1 All equipment identified in a response plan must be capable of 
operating in the conditions expected in the geographic area in which a 
vessel operates. These conditions vary widely based on the location and 
season. Therefore, it is difficult to identify a single stockpile of 
response equipment that will function effectively in every geographic 
location.
    2.2 Vessels storing, handling, or transporting oil in more than one 
operating environment as indicated in Table 1 must identify equipment 
capable of successfully functioning in each operating environment. For 
example, vessels moving from the ocean to a river port must identify 
appropriate equipment designed to meet the criteria for transiting 
oceans, inland waterways, rivers, and canals. This equipment may be 
designed to operate in all of these environments or, more likely, 
different equipment may be designed for use in each area.
    2.3 When identifying equipment for response plan credit, a vessel 
owner or operator must consider the inherent limitations in the 
operability of equipment components and response systems. The criteria 
in Table 1 of this appendix must be used for evaluating the operability 
in a given environment. These criteria reflect the general conditions in 
certain operating areas.
    2.4 Table 1 of this appendix lists criteria for oil recovery devices 
and boom. All other equipment necessary to sustain or support response 
operations in a geographic area must be designed to function in the same 
conditions. For example, boats which deploy or support skimmers or boom 
must be capable of being safely operated in the significant wave heights 
listed for the applicable operating environment. The Coast Guard may 
require documentation that the boom identified in a response plan meets 
the criteria in Table 1 of this appendix. Absent acceptable 
documentation, the Coast Guard may require that the boom be tested to 
demonstrate that it meets the criteria in Table 1 of this appendix. 
Testing must be in accordance with certain American Society for Testing 
Materials (ASTM) standards [ASTM F 715 (incorporated by reference, see 
Sec. 155.140) Standard Methods of Testing Spill Control Barrier 
Membrane Materials], or other tests approved by the Coast Guard.
    2.5 A vessel owner or operator must refer to the applicable Area 
Contingency Plan to determine if ice, debris, and weather-related 
visibility are significant factors in evaluating the operability of 
equipment. The Area

[[Page 443]]

Contingency Plan will also identify the average temperature ranges 
expected in a geographic area in which a vessel operates. All equipment 
identified in a response plan must be designed to operate within those 
conditions or ranges.
    2.6 The requirements of subparts D, E, F, and G of this part 
establish response resource mobilization and response times. The 
location that the vessel operates farthest from the storage location of 
the response resources must be used to determine whether the resources 
are capable of arriving on scene within the time required. A vessel 
owner or operator shall include the time for notification, mobilization, 
and travel time of resources identified to meet the maximum most 
probable discharge and Tier 1 worst case discharge requirements. For 
subparts D and E of this part, tier 2 and 3 resources must be notified 
and mobilized as necessary to meet the requirements for arrival on 
scene. An on-water speed of 5 knots and a land speed of 35 miles per 
hour is assumed, unless the vessel owner or operator can demonstrate 
otherwise.
    2.7 For subparts D and E of this part, in identifying equipment, the 
vessel owner or operator shall list the storage location, quantity, and 
manufacturer's make and model, unless the oil spill removal 
organization(s) providing the necessary response resources have been 
evaluated by the Coast Guard, and their capability has been determined 
to equal or exceed the response capability needed by the vessel. For oil 
recovery devices, the effective daily recovery capacity, as determined 
using section 6 of this appendix, must be included. For boom, the 
overall boom height (draft plus freeboard) must be included. A vessel 
owner or operator is responsible for ensuring that identified boom has 
compatible connectors.
    2.8 For subparts F and G of this part, in identifying equipment, the 
vessel owner or operator shall list the storage location, quantity, and 
manufacturer's make and model, unless the oil spill removal 
organization(s) providing the necessary response resources have been 
evaluated by the Coast Guard, and their capability has been determined 
to equal or exceed the response capability needed by the vessel. For 
boom, the overall boom height (draft plus freeboard) must be included. A 
vessel owner of operator is responsible for ensuring that identified 
boom has compatible connectors.

3. Determining Response Resources Required for the Average Most Probable 
                                Discharge

    3.1 A vessel owner or operator shall identify and ensure, by 
contract or other approved means, that sufficient response resources are 
available to respond to the 50-barrel average most probable discharge at 
the point of an oil transfer involving a vessel that carries oil as a 
primary cargo. The equipment must be designed to function in the 
operating environment at the point of oil transfer. These resources must 
include--
    3.1.1 Containment boom in a quantity equal to twice the length of 
the largest vessel involved in the transfer capable of being deployed 
within 1 hour of the detection of a spill at the site of oil transfer 
operations. If the transfer operation is more than 12 miles from shore, 
the containment boom must be deployed within 1 hour plus the travel time 
from the nearest shoreline at a speed of 5 knots.
    3.1.2 Oil recovery devices with an effective daily recovery capacity 
of 50 barrels or greater available at the transfer site within 2 hours 
of the detection of an oil discharge.
    3.1.3 Oil storage capacity for recovered oily material indicated in 
section 9.2 of this appendix.

4. Determining Response Resources Required for the Maximum Most Probable 
                                Discharge

    4.1 A vessel owner or operator shall identify and ensure, by 
contract or other approved means, that sufficient response resources are 
available to respond to discharges up to the maximum most probable 
discharge volume for that vessel. The resources should be capable of 
containing and collecting up to 2,500 barrels of oil. All equipment 
identified must be designed to operate in the applicable operating 
environment specified in table 1 of this appendix.
    4.2 To determine the maximum most probable discharge volume to be 
used for planning, use the lesser of--
    4.2.1 2500 barrels; or
    4.2.2 10 percent of the total oil cargo capacity.
    4.3 Oil recovery devices necessary to meet the applicable maximum 
most probable discharge volume planning criteria must be located such 
that they arrive on scene within 12 hours of the discovery of a 
discharge in higher volume port areas and the Great Lakes, 24 hours in 
all other rivers and canals, inland, nearshore, and offshore areas, and 
24 hours plus travel time from shore in all open ocean areas.
    4.3.1 Because rapid control, containment, and removal of oil is 
critical to reduce spill impact, the effective daily recovery capacity 
for oil recovery devices must equal 50% of the planning volume 
applicable for the vessel as determined in section 4.2 of this appendix. 
The effective daily recovery capacity for oil recovery devices 
identified in the plan must be determined using the criteria in section 
6 of this appendix.
    4.4 In addition to oil recovery capacity, the vessel owner or 
operator must identify in the response plan and ensure the availability 
of, through contract or other approved means, sufficient boom available 
within the required response times for oil connection and containment, 
and for protection of

[[Page 444]]

shoreline areas. While the regulation does not set required quantities 
of boom for oil collection and containment, the owner or operator of a 
vessel must still identify in a response plan and ensure, through 
contract or other approved means, the availability of the boom 
identified in the plan for this purpose.
    4.5 The plan must indicate the availability of temporary storage 
capacity to meet the requirements of section 9.2 of this appendix. If 
available storage capacity is insufficient to meet this requirement, the 
effective daily recovery capacity must be downgraded to the limits of 
the available storage capacity.
    4.6 The following is an example of a maximum most probable discharge 
volume planning calculation for equipment identification in a higher 
volume port area:
    The vessel's cargo capacity is 10,000 barrels, thus the planning 
volume is 10 percent or 1,000 barrels. The effective daily recovery 
capacity must be 50 percent of the planning volume, for 500 barrels per 
day. The ability of oil recovery devices to meet this capacity will be 
calculated using the procedures in section 6 of this appendix. Temporary 
storage capacity available on scene must equal twice the daily recovery 
capacity as indicated in section 9 of this appendix, or 1000 barrels per 
day. This figure would represent the information the vessel owner or 
operator would use to identify and ensure the availability of, through 
contract or other approved means, the required response resources. The 
vessel owner would also need to identify how much boom was available for 
use.

5. Determining Response Resources Required for the Worst Case Discharge 
                    to the Maximum Extent Practicable

    5.1 A vessel owner or operator shall identify and ensure, by 
contract or other approved means, that sufficient response resources are 
available to respond to the worst case discharge of oil cargo to the 
maximum extent practicable. Section 7 of this appendix describes the 
method to determine the required response resources.
    5.2 Oil spill recovery devices identified to meet the applicable 
worst case discharge planning volume must be located such that they can 
arrive at the scene of a discharge within the time specified for the 
applicable response tier listed in Sec. 155.1050(g).
    5.3 The effective daily recovery capacity for oil recovery devices 
identified in a response plan must be determined using the criteria in 
section 6 of this appendix. A vessel owner or operator shall identify 
the storage locations of all equipment that must be used to fulfill the 
requirements for each tier.
    5.4 A vessel owner or operator shall identify the availability of 
temporary storage capacity to meet the requirements of section 9.2 of 
this appendix. If available storage capacity is insufficient to meet 
this requirement, then the effective daily recovery capacity must be 
downgraded to the limits of the available storage capacity.
    5.5 When selecting response resources necessary to meet the response 
plan requirements, the vessel owner or operator must ensure that a 
portion of those resources are capable of being used in close-to-shore 
response activities in shallow water. The following percentages of the 
on-water response equipment identified for the applicable geographic 
area must be capable of operating in waters of 6 feet or less depth:
    (i) Open ocean--none.
    (ii) Offshore--10 percent.
    (iii) Nearshore, inland, Great Lakes, and rivers and canals--20 
percent.
    5.6 In addition to oil spill recovery devices and temporary storage 
capacity, a vessel owner or operator shall identify in the response plan 
and ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved 
means, sufficient boom that can arrive on scene within the required 
response times for oil containment and collection. The specific quantity 
of boom required for collection and containment will depend on the 
specific recovery equipment and strategies employed. Table 2 of this 
appendix lists the minimum quantities of additional boom required for 
shoreline protection that a vessel owner or operator shall identify in 
the response plan and ensure the availability of, through contract or 
other approved means.
    5.7 A vessel owner or operator shall also identify in the response 
plan and ensure, by contract or other approved means, the availability 
of an oil spill removal organization capable of responding to a 
shoreline cleanup operation involving the calculated volume of 
emulsified oil that might impact the affected shoreline. The volume of 
oil for which a vessel owner or operator should plan should be 
calculated through the application of factors contained in Tables 3 and 
4 of this appendix. The volume calculated from these tables is intended 
to assist the vessel owner or operator in identifying a contractor with 
sufficient resources. This planning volume is not used explicitly to 
determine a required amount of equipment and personnel.

   6. Determining Effective Daily Recovery Capacity for Oil Recovery 
                                 Devices

    6.1 Oil recovery devices identified by a vessel owner or operator 
must be identified by manufacturer, model, and effective daily recovery 
capacity. These capacities must be to meet the applicable planning 
criteria for the average most probable discharge; maximum most probable 
discharge; and worst case discharge to the maximum extent practicable.
    6.2 For the purposes of determining the effective daily recovery 
capacity of oil recovery devices, the following method will be

[[Page 445]]

used. This method considers potential limitations due to available 
daylight, weather, sea state, and percentage of emulsified oil in the 
recovered material. The Coast Guard may assign a lower efficiency factor 
to equipment listed in a response plan if it determines that such a 
reduction is warranted.
    6.2.1 The following formula must be used to calculate the effective 
daily recovery capacity:

R=Tx24xE

R--Effective daily recovery capacity
T--Throughput rate in barrels per hour (nameplate capacity)
E--20% efficiency factor (or lower factor as determined by the Coast 
Guard)

    6.2.2 For those devices in which the pump limits the throughput of 
liquid, throughput rate will be calculated using the pump capacity.
    6.2.3 For belt or mop type devices, the throughput rate will be 
calculated using data provided by the manufacturer on the nameplate 
rated capacity for the device.
    6.2.4 Vessel owners or operators including in the response plan oil 
recovery devices whose throughput is not measurable using a pump 
capacity or belt or mop capacity may provide information to support an 
alternative method of calculation. This information must be submitted 
following the procedures in section 6.5 of this appendix.
    6.3 As an alternative to section 6.2 of this appendix, a vessel 
owner or operator may submit adequate evidence that a different 
effective daily recovery capacity should be applied for a specific oil 
recovery device. Adequate evidence is actual verified performance data 
in spill conditions or test using certain ASTM standards [ASTM F 631 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec. 155.140) Standard Method for 
Testing Full Scale Advancing Spill Removal Devices], or an equivalent 
test approved by the Coast Guard.
    6.3.1 The following formula must be used to calculate the effective 
daily recovery capacity under this alternative:

R=DxU

R--Effective daily recovery capacity
D--Average Oil Recovery Rate in barrels per hour (Item 13.2.16 in ASTM F 
631; or actual performance data)
U--Hours per day that a vessel owner or operator can document capability 
to operate equipment under spill conditions. Ten hours per day must be 
used unless a vessel owner or operator can demonstrate that the recovery 
operation can be sustained for longer periods.

    6.4 A vessel owner or operator submitting a response plan shall 
provide data that supports the effective daily recovery capacities for 
the oil recovery devices listed. The following is an example of these 
calculations:
    A weir skimmer identified in a response plan has a manufacturer's 
rated throughput at the pump of 267 gallons per minute (gpm).

267 gpm=381 barrels per hour
R=381x24x.2=1,829 barrels per day

    After testing using ASTM procedures, the skimmer's oil recovery rate 
is determined to be 220 gpm. The vessel owner or operator identifies 
sufficient resources available to support operations 12 hours per day.

220 gpm=314 barrels per hour
R=314x12=3,768 barrels per day

    A vessel owner or operator will be able to use the higher capacity 
if sufficient temporary oil storage capacity is available.
    6.5 Determinations of alternative efficiency factors under section 
6.2 or alternative effective daily recovery capacities under section 6.3 
of this appendix will be made by Commandant (G-MOR), Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593. Oil spill 
removal organizations or equipment manufacturers may submit required 
information on behalf of multiple vessel owners or operators.

        7. Calculating the Worst Case Discharge Planning Volumes

    7.1 A vessel owner or operator shall plan for a response to a 
vessel's worst case discharge volume of oil cargo. The planning for on-
water recovery must take into account a loss of some oil to the 
environment due to evaporations and natural dissipation, potential 
increases in volume due to emulsification, and the potential for deposit 
of some oil on the shoreline.
    7.2 The following procedures must be used to calculate the planning 
volume used by a vessel owner or operator for determining required on-
water recovery capacity:
    7.2.1 The following must be determined: the total volume of oil 
cargo carried; the appropriate cargo group for the type of petroleum oil 
carried [persistent (groups II, III, and IV) or non-persistent (group 
I)]; and the geographic area(s) in which the vessel operates. For 
vessels carrying mixed cargoes from different petroleum oil groups, each 
group must be calculated separately. This information is to be used with 
Table 3 of this appendix to determine the percentages of the total cargo 
volume to be used for removal capacity planning. This table divides the 
cargo volume into three categories: oil lost to the environment; oil 
deposited on the shoreline; and oil available for on-water recovery.
    7.2.2 The on-water oil recovery volume must be adjusted using the 
appropriate emulsification factor found in Table 4 of this appendix.
    7.2.3 The adjusted volume is multiplied by the on-water oil recovery 
resource mobilization factor found in Table 5 of this appendix

[[Page 446]]

from the appropriate operating area and response tier to determine the 
total on-water oil recovery capacity in barrels per day that must be 
identified or contracted for to arrive on scene within the applicable 
time for each response tier. Three tiers are specified. For higher 
volume port areas, the contracted tiers of resources must be located 
such that they can arrive on scene within 12, 36, and 60 hours of the 
discovery of an oil discharge. For the Great Lakes, these tiers are 18, 
42, and 66 hours. For rivers and canals, inland, nearshore, and 
offshore, these tiers are 24, 48, and 72 hours. For the open ocean area, 
these tiers are 24, 48, and 72 hours with an additional travel time 
allowance of 1 hour for every additional 5 nautical miles from shore.
    7.2.4 The resulting on-water recovery capacity in barrels per day 
for each tier is used to identify response resources necessary to 
sustain operations in the applicable geographic area. The equipment must 
be capable of sustaining operations for the time period specified in 
Table 3 of this appendix. A vessel owner or operator shall identify and 
ensure the availability of, through contract or other approved means, 
sufficient oil spill recovery devices to provide the effective daily oil 
recovery capacity required. If the required capacity exceeds the 
applicable cap described in Table 6 of this appendix, then a vessel 
owner or operator must contract only for the quantity of resources 
required to meet the cap, but shall identify sources of additional 
resources as indicated in Sec. 155.1050(o). The owner or operator of a 
vessel whose planning volume exceeded the cap in 1993 should plan for 
additional capacity to be under contract by 1998 or 2003, as 
appropriate. For a vessel that carries multiple groups of oil, the 
required effective daily recovery capacity for each group is calculated 
and summed before applying the cap.
    7.3 The following procedures must be used to calculate the planning 
volume for identifying shoreline cleanup capacity:
    7.3.1 The following must be determined: the total volume of oil 
cargo carried; the appropriate cargo group for the type of petroleum oil 
carried [persistent (groups II, III, and IV) or non-persistent (group 
I)]; and the geographic area(s) in which the vessel operates. For a 
vessel carrying cargoes from different oil groups, each group must be 
calculated separately. Using this information, Table 3 of this appendix 
must be used to determine the percentages of the total cargo volume to 
be used for shoreline cleanup resource planning.
    7.3.2 The shoreline cleanup planning volume must be adjusted to 
reflect an emulsification factor using the same procedure as described 
in section 7.2.2 of this appendix.
    7.3.3 The resulting volume will be used to identify an oil spill 
removal organization with the appropriate shoreline cleanup capability.
    7.4 The following is an example of the procedure described above:
    A vessel with a 100,000 barrel capacity for 6 oil (specific 
gravity .96) will move from a higher volume port area to another area. 
The vessel's route will be 70 miles from shore.

Cargo carried: 100,000 bbls. Group IV oil Emulsification factor (from 
          Table 4 of this appendix): 1.4 Areas transited: Inland, 
          Nearshore, Offshore, Open ocean
Planned % on-water recovery (from Table 3 of this appendix):
    Inland 50%
    Nearshore 50%
    Offshore 40%
    Open ocean 20%
Planned % oil onshore recovery (from Table 3 of this appendix):
    Inland 70%
    Nearshore 70%
    Offshore 30%
    Open ocean 30%

General formula to determine planning volume:
(planning volume)=(capacity)x(% from Table 3 of this 
          appendix)x(emulsification factor from Table 4 of this 
          appendix)
Planning volumes for on-water recovery:
    Inland 100,000x.5x1.4=70,000 bbls
    Nearshore 100,000x.5x1.4=70,000 bbls
    Offshore 100,000x.4x1.4=56,000 bbls
    Open ocean 100,000x.2x1.4=28,000 bbls
Planning volumes for on shore recovery:
    Inland 100,000x.7x1.4=98,000 bbls
    Nearshore 100,000x.7x1.4=98,000 bbls
    Offshore 100,000x.3x1.4=42,000 bbls
    The vessel owner or operator must contract with a response resource 
capable of managing a 98,000-barrel shoreline cleanup in those areas 
where the vessel comes closer than 50 miles to shore.
    Determining required resources for on-water recovery for each tier 
using mobilization factors: (barrel per day on-water recovery 
requirements)=(on-water planning volume as calculated 
above)x(mobilization factor from Table 5 of this appendix).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Tier 1      Tier 2       Tier 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inland/Nearshore 70,000........   x         .15         .25          .40
Offshore 56,000................   x         .10         .165         .21
Open ocean 28,000..............   x         .06         .10          .12
 
                        equals (barrels per day)
 
Inland/Nearshore...............  ...     10,500   17,500          28,000
Offshore.......................  ...      5,600    9,240          11,760

[[Page 447]]

 
Open ocean.....................  ...      1,680    2,800           3,360
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since the requirements for Tier 1 for inland and nearshore exceed 
the caps, the vessel owner would only need to contract for 10,000 
barrels per day for Tier 1. No additional equipment would be required to 
be identified because the required Tier 3 resources are below the Tier 3 
caps.
    10% of the on-water recovery capability for offshore, and 20% of the 
capability for inland/nearshore, for all tiers, must be capable of 
operating in water with a depth of 6 feet or less.
    The vessel owner or operator would also be required to identify or 
contract for quantities of boom identified in Table 2 of this appendix 
for the areas in which the vessel operates.

      8. Determining the Availability of High-Rate Response Methods

    8.1 Response plans for a vessel carrying group II or III persistent 
oil as a primary cargo that operates in an area with year-round pre-
approval for dispersant use may receive credit for up to 25 percent of 
their required on-water recovery capacity in that area for 1993 if the 
availability of these resources are ensured by contract or other 
approved means. For response plan credit, these resources must be 
capable of being on scene within 12 hours of the discovery of a 
discharge.
    8.2 To receive credit against any required on-water recovery 
capacity, a response plan must identify the locations of dispersant 
stockpiles, methods of transporting to a shoreside staging area, and 
appropriate aircraft or vessels to apply the dispersant and monitor its 
effectiveness at the scene of an oil discharge.
    8.2.1 Sufficient volumes of dispersants must be available to treat 
the oil at the dosage rate recommended by the dispersant manufacturer. 
Dispersants identified in a response plan must be on the National 
Contingency Plan Product Schedule maintained by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency. (Some States have a list of approved dispersants and 
within State waters only they can be used.)
    8.2.2 Dispersant application equipment identified in a response plan 
for credit must be located such that it can be mobilized to shoreside 
staging areas to meet the time requirements in section 8.1 of this 
appendix. Sufficient equipment capacity and sources of appropriate 
dispersants must be identified to sustain dispersant operations for at 
least 3 days.
    8.2.3 Credit against on-water recovery capacity in pre-approved 
areas will be based on the ability to treat oil at a rate equivalent to 
this credit. For example, a 2,500 barrels per day credit against the 
10,000 barrels per day on-water Tier 1 cap would require the vessel 
owner or operator to demonstrate the ability to treat 2,500 barrels per 
day of oil at the manufacturer's recommended dosage rate. Assuming a 
dosage rate of 10:1, the plan would need to show stockpiles and sources 
of 750 barrels of dispersants that would be available on scene at a rate 
of 250 barrels per day and the ability to apply the dispersant at the 
daily rate for 3 days in the area in which the vessel operates. Similar 
data would need to be provided for any additional credit against Tier 2 
and 3 resources.
    8.3 In addition to the equipment and supplies required, a vessel 
owner or operator shall identify a source of support to conduct the 
monitoring and post-use effectiveness evaluation required by applicable 
Local and Area Contingency Plans.
    8.4 Identification of the resources for dispersant application does 
not imply that the use of this technique will be authorized. Actual 
authorization for use during a spill response will be governed by the 
provisions of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan 
(40 CFR part 300) and the applicable Local or Area Contingency Plan.
    8.5 In addition to the credit identified above, a vessel owners or 
operators that operates in areas pre-approved for dispersant use may 
reduce their required on-water recovery cap increases for 1998 and 2003 
by up to 50% by identifying non-mechanical methods.
    8.6 The use of in-situ burning as a non-mechanical response method 
is still being studied. Because limitations and uncertainties remain for 
the use of this method, it may not be used to reduce required oil 
recovery capacity in 1993. Use of this or other alternative high-rate 
methods for a portion of the required cap increase in 1998 will be 
determined during the cap increase review in 1996.

    9. Additional Equipment Necessary to Sustain Response Operations

    9.1 A vessel owner or operator is responsible for ensuring that 
sufficient numbers of trained personnel, boats, aerial spotting 
aircraft, sorbent materials, boom anchoring materials, and other 
resources are a available to sustain response operations to completion. 
All such equipment must be suitable for use with the primary equipment 
identified in the response plan. A vessel owner or

[[Page 448]]

operator is not required to list these resources in the response plan, 
but shall certify their availability.
    9.2 A vessel owner or operator shall evaluate the availability of 
adequate temporary storage capacity to sustain the effective daily 
recovery capacities from equipment identified in the plan. Because of 
the inefficiencies of oil spill recovery devices, response plans must 
identify daily storage capacity equivalent to twice the effective daily 
recovery capacity required on scene. This temporary storage capacity may 
be reduced if a vessel owner or operator can demonstrate by waste stream 
analysis that the efficiencies of the oil recovery devices, ability to 
decant water, or the availability of alternative temporary storage or 
disposal locations in the area(s) the vessel will operate will reduce 
the overall volume of oily material storage requirements.
    9.3 A vessel owner or operator shall ensure that their planning 
includes the capability to arrange for disposal of recovered oil 
products. Specific disposal procedures will be addressed in the 
applicable Area Contingency Plan.

              Table 1--Response Resource Operating Criteria
                         [Oil Recovery Devices]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Significant Wave
                                                Height \1\
           Operating Environment            ------------------ Sea State
                                                  (feet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rivers & Canals............................               <=1          1
Inland.....................................               <=3          2
Great Lakes................................               <=4        2-3
Ocean......................................               <=6        3-4
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                     [Boom]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Use
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------
                   Boom Property                       Rivers &
                                                        Canals        Inland        Great Lakes        Ocean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Significant Wave 1, 2 Height (feet)................          <=1             <=3             <=4             <=6
Sea State..........................................            1               2             2-3             3-4
Boom height--in....................................         6-18           18-42           18-42  =42
    (draft plus freeboard)
Reserve Buoyancy to Weight Ratio...................          2:1             2:1             2:1      3:1 to 4:1
Total Tensile Strength--lbs........................        4,500       15-20,000       15-20,000  20,
                                                                                                             000
Skirt Fabric Tensile Strength--lbs.................          200             300             300             500
Skirt Fabric Tear Strength--lbs....................          100             100             100             125
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Oil recovery devices and boom must be at least capable of operating in wave heights up to and including the
  values listed in Table 1 for each operating environment.
\2\ Equipment identified as capable of operating in waters of 6 feet or less depth are exempt from the
  significant wave height planning requirement.


                                   Table 2--Shoreline Protection Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Boom             Availability hours
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                    Ensured by
                            Location                                contract or    Higher volume
                                                                  other approved     port area      Other areas
                                                                    means (ft.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Persistent Oils
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Ocean......................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Offshore........................................................          15,000              24              48
Nearshore/Inland/Great Lakes....................................          30,000              12              24
Rivers & Canals.................................................          25,000              12              24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Non-Persistent Oils
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Ocean......................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Offshore........................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Nearshore/Inland/Great Lakes....................................          10,000              12              24
Rivers & Canals.................................................          15,000              12              24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 449]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12JA96.000


[[Page 450]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12JA96.001


     Table 4--Emulsification Factors for Petroleum Oil Cargo Groups
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-persistent oil 72 G:
    Group I................................................          1.0
Persistent oil:
    Group II...............................................          1.8
    Group III..............................................          2.0

[[Page 451]]

 
    Group IV...............................................          1.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          Table 5--On-Water Oil Recovery Resource Mobilization Factors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Area                                       Tier 1       Tier 2        Tier 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rivers and Canals.......................................................          .30        .40             .60
Inland/Nearshore/Great Lakes............................................          .15        .25             .40
Offshore................................................................          .10        .165            .21
Ocean...................................................................          .06        .10             .12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: These mobilization factors are for total resources mobilized, not incremental resources.


                              Table 6--Response Capability Caps by Geographic Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Tier 1                   Tier 2                   Tier 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of February 18, 1993:
All except rivers & canals & Great     10K bbls/day...........  20K bbls/day...........  40K bbls/day.
 Lakes.
Great Lakes..........................  5K bbls/day............  10K bbls/day...........  20K bbls/day.
Rivers & canals......................  1,500 bbls/day.........  3,000 bbls/day.........  6,000 bbls/day.
February 18, 1998:
All except rivers & canals & Great     12.5K bbls/day.........  25K bbls/day...........  50K bbls/day.
 Lakes.
Great Lakes..........................  6.35K bbls/day.........  12.5K bbls/day.........  25K bbls/day.
Rivers & canals......................  1,875 bbls/day.........  3,750 bbls/day.........  7,500 bbls/day.
February 18, 2003
All except rivers & canals & Great     TBD....................  TBD....................  TBD
 Lakes.
Great Lakes..........................  TBD....................  TBD....................  TBD
Rivers & canals......................  TBD....................  TBD....................  TBD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The caps show cumulative overall effective daily recovery capacity, not incremental increases.
K = Thousand
bbls = Barrels
TBD = To be determined


[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1100, Jan. 12, 1996, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 
33666, June 28, 1996; USCG-1999-5151, 64 FR 67176, Dec. 1, 1999; USCG-
2005-21531, 70 FR 36349, June 23, 2005]

 Appendix C to Part 155--Training Elements for Oil Spill Response Plans

                               1. General

    1.1 The portion of the plan dealing with training is one of the key 
elements of a response plan. This concept is clearly expressed by the 
fact that Congress, in writing the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 
specifically included training as one of the sections required in a 
vessel or facility response plan. In reviewing submitted response plans, 
it has been noted that the plans often do not provide sufficient 
information in the training section of the plan for either the user or 
the reviewer of the plan. In some cases, plans simply state that the 
crew and others will be training in their duties and responsibilities, 
with no other information being provided. In other plans, information is 
simply given that required parties will receive the necessary worker 
safety training (HAZWOPER).
    1.2 The training section of the plan need not be a detailed course 
syllabus, but it must contain sufficient information to allow the user 
and reviewer (or evaluator) to have an understanding of those areas that 
are believed to be critical. Plans should identify key skill areas and 
the training that is required to ensure that the individual identified 
will be capable of performing the duties prescribed to them. It should 
also describe how the training will be delivered to the various 
personnel. Further, this section of the plan must work in harmony with 
those sections of the plan dealing with exercises, the spill management 
team, and the qualified individual.
    1.3 The material in this appendix C is not all-inclusive and is 
provided for guidance only.

                       2. Elements To Be Addressed

    2.1 To assist in the preparation of the training section of a vessel 
response plan, some of the key elements that should be addressed are 
indicated in the following sections. Again, while it is not necessary 
that the comprehensive training program for the company be included in 
the response plan, it is necessary for the plan to convey the elements 
that define the program as appropriate.
    2.2 An effective spill response training program should consider and 
address the following:

[[Page 452]]

    2.2.1 Notification requirements and procedures.
    2.2.2 Communication system(s) used for the notifications.
    2.2.3 Procedures to mitigate or prevent any discharge or a 
substantial threat of a discharge of oil resulting from--
    2.2.3.1 Operational activities associated with internal or external 
cargo transfers;
    2.2.3.2 Grounding or stranding;
    2.2.3.3 Collision;
    2.2.3.4 Explosion or fire;
    2.2.3.5 Hull failure;
    2.2.3.6 Excessive list; or
    2.2.3.7 Equipment failure.
    2.2.4 Procedures and arrangements for emergency towing.
    2.2.5 When performing shipboard mitigation measures--
    2.2.5.1 Ship salvage procedures;
    2.2.5.2 Damage stability; and
    2.2.5.3 Hull stress considerations.
    2.2.6 Procedures for transferring responsibility for direction of 
response activities from vessel and facility personnel to the spill 
management team.
    2.2.7 Familiarity with the operational capabilities of the 
contracted oil spill removal organizations and the procedures to notify 
and activate such organizations.
    2.2.8 Familiarity with the contracting and ordering procedures to 
acquire oil spill removal organization resources.
    2.2.9 Familiarity with the Area Contingency Plans.
    2.2.10 Familiarity with the organizational structures that will be 
used to manage the response actions.
    2.2.11 Responsibilities and duties of the spill management team 
members in accordance with designated job responsibilities.
    2.2.12 Responsibilities and authority of the qualified individual as 
described in the vessel response plan and company response organization.
    2.2.13 Responsibilities of designated individuals to initiate a 
response and supervise shore-based response resources.
    2.2.14 Actions to take, in accordance with designated job 
responsibilities, in the event of a transfer system leak, tank overflow, 
or suspected cargo tank or hull leak.
    2.2.15 Information on the cargoes handled by the vessel or facility, 
including familiarity with--
    2.2.15.1 Cargo material safety data sheets;
    2.2.15.2 Chemical characteristics of the cargo;
    2.2.15.3 Special handling procedures for the cargo;
    2.2.15.4 Health and safety hazards associated with the cargo; and
    2.2.15.5 Spill and firefighting procedures for the cargo.
    2.2.16 Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements 
for worker health and safety (29 CFR 1910.120).

                        3. Further Considerations

    In drafting the training section of the response plan, some further 
considerations are noted below (these points are raised simply as a 
reminder):
    3.1 The training program should focus on training provided to vessel 
personnel.
    3.2 An organization is comprised of individuals, and a training 
program should be structured to recognize this fact by ensuring that 
training is tailored to the needs of the individuals involved in the 
program.
    3.3 An owner or operator may identify equivalent work experience 
which fulfills specific training requirements.
    3.4 The training program should include participation in periodic 
announced and unannounced exercises. This participation should 
approximate the actual roles and responsibilities of individuals as 
specified in the response plan.
    3.5 Training should be conducted periodically to reinforce the 
required knowledge and to ensure an adequate degree of preparedness by 
individuals with responsibilities under the vessel response plan.
    3.6 Training may be delivered via a number of different means; 
including classroom sessions, group discussions, video tapes, self study 
workbooks, resident training courses, on-the-job training, or other 
means as deemed appropriate to ensure proper instruction.
    3.7 New employees should complete the training program prior to 
being assigned job responsibilities which require participation in 
emergency response situations.

                              4. Conclusion

    The information in this appendix is only intended to assist response 
plan preparers in reviewing the content of and in modifying the training 
section of their response plans. It may be more comprehensive than is 
needed for some vessels and not comprehensive enough for others. The 
Coast Guard expects that plan preparers have determined the training 
needs of their organizations created by the development of the response 
plans and the actions identified as necessary to increase the 
preparedness of the company and its personnel to respond to actual or 
threatened discharges of oil from their vessels.

[CGD 91-034, 61 FR 1107, Jan. 12, 1996]