§157.10. Segregated ballast tanks and crude oil washing systems for certain new vessels. — Inbound Citations

(a) Each tank vessel that is engaged in the transfer of crude oil from an offshore oil exploitation or production facility on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States on or after June 1, 1980 must, if segregated ballast tanks or dedicated clean ballast tanks are not required under § 157.09, § 157.10 or § 157.10a, have one of the following:

(1) Segregated ballast tanks with a total capacity to meet the draft and trim requirements in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Dedicated clean ballast tanks having a total capacity to meet the draft and trim requirements in paragraph (b) of this section and meeting the design and equipment requirements under subpart E of this part.

(2) If § 157.10 applies, segregated ballast tanks and a crude oil washing system in accordance with that section.

(e) Each tank vessel under § 157.10 must have:

(1) Oil piping lines that are designed and installed to minimize oil retention in those lines;

(2) Equipment that drains each cargo pump and oil piping line of oil residue;

(3) Oil piping lines for the draining of oil residue from cargo pumps and other oil piping lines to a cargo tank or slop tank; and

(4) An oil piping line that meets paragraph (f) of this section and is connected to the cargo discharge piping on the outboard side of the manifold valves for the draining of oil residue from cargo pumps and other oil piping lines to a receptacle on the shore.

(1) Segregated ballast tanks that meet the requirements in § 157.09, § 157.10, § 157.10a, or § 157.10b; or

(c) Plans and calculations to substantiate compliance with the applicable segregated ballast and double hull requirements in § 157.09, § 157.10, § 157.10a, § 157.10b, or § 157.10d, or certification from the government of the vessel's flag state that the vessel complies with the segregated ballast and double hull requirements in:

(1) Sections 157.09, 157.10, 157.10a, 157.10b, or 157.10d, as applicable; or

(2) For a vessel to which § 157.10d does not apply, Regulations 13 and 13E of the MARPOL 73/78.

The master of a tank vessel with segregated ballast tanks or dedicated clean ballast tanks under § 157.09, § 157.10, § 157.10a(a)(1), § 157.10a(b), § 157.10a(c), § 157.10b(a), § 157.10c(b)(1), or § 157.10c(c) shall ensure that ballast water is carried in a cargo tank only if—

(a) Before issuing a letter under § 157.142, the Coast Guard makes an initial inspection of each U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) and each foreign tank vessel whose owner or operator submitted the plans under § 157.102 to determine whether or not, when entering a port, the cargo tanks that carry crude oil meet the following:

(1) After each tank is crude oil washed but not water rinsed, except the bottom of the tank may be flushed with water and stripped, each tank is essentially free of oil residues to a degree acceptable to the Coast Guard inspector.

(2) After the tanks that are to be used as ballast tanks when leaving the port are crude oil washed and stripped but not water rinsed or bottom flushed, they are filled with water and the total volume of crude oil floating on top of the water in these tanks is 0.085 percent or less of the total volume of these tanks.

The owner, operator, and master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that the person designated as the person in charge of COW operations—

(4) For a vessel to which § 157.10(b) applies that is built under a contract awarded after September 11, 1992.

(i) The aggregate volume of the double sides, double bottom, forepeak tanks, and afterpeak tanks must not be less than the capacity of segregated ballast tanks required under § 157.10(b). Segregated ballast tanks that may be provided in addition to those required under § 157.10(b) may be located anywhere within the vessel.

(ii) Double side and double bottom tanks used to meet the requirements of § 157.10(b) must be located as uniformly as practicable along the cargo tank length. Large inboard extensions of individual double side and double bottom tanks, which result in a reduction of overall side or bottom protection, must be avoided.

(k) Sections 157.09(b)(3), 157.10(c)(3), 157.10a(d)(3), and 157.10b(b)(3) do not apply to tank barges.

(a) Before each U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) is inspected under § 157.140, the owner or operator of that vessel must submit to the Coast Guard plans that include—

(1) A drawing or diagram of the COW pumping and piping system that meets 46 CFR 56.01-10(d);

(2) The design of each COW machine;

(3) The arrangement, location, and installation of the COW machines; and

(4) Except as allowed in § 157.104, the projected direct impingement pattern of crude oil from the nozzles of the COW machines on the surfaces of each tank, showing the surface areas not reached by direct impingement.

If the owner or operator of a foreign tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2), desires the letter from the Coast Guard under § 157.106 accepting the plans submitted under this paragraph, the owner or operator must submit to the Commandant (CG-CVC), Attn: Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7501, plans that include—

Before each U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) is inspected under § 157.140, the owner or operator of that vessel must submit two copies of a manual that meets § 157.138, to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, of the zone in which the COW system is installed or to the appropriate Coast Guard field technical office listed in § 157.100(b).

If the owner or operator of a foreign tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) desires a Coast Guard approved Crude Oil Washing Operations and Equipment Manual under § 157.112, the owner or operator must submit two copies of a manual that meets § 157.138 to the Commandant (CG-CVC), Attn: Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7501.

The owner, operator, and master of a U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that the vessel does not engage in a voyage unless the vessel has on board the following:

(a) The owner, operator, and master of a foreign tank vessel under § 157.10(e) or § 157.10a(a)(2) shall ensure that the vessel does not enter the navigable waters of the United States or transfer cargo at a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States unless the vessel has on board—

(i) Is approved under § 157.112; or

(ii) Meets the manual standards in Resolution 15 of the MARPOL 73/78 and bears the approval of the government of the vessel's flag state; and

(i) A document from the government of the vessel's flag state that certifies that the vessel complies with Resolution 15 of the MARPOL 73/78; or

(A) The letter of acceptance issued under § 157.106.

(B) The letter of acceptance issued under § 157.142.

(C) Each amending letter issued under § 157.158(c).

(a) Each tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) must have a stripping system that is designed to remove crude oil from—

(1) Each cargo tank at 1.25 times the rate at which all the COW machines that are designed to simultaneously wash the bottom of the tank, are operating; and

(2) The bottom of each tank to allow the tank vessel to pass the inspection under § 157.140(a)(2).

If a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) carries more than one grade of crude oil, the COW system must be capable of washing the cargo tanks with the grades of crude oil that the vessel carries.

Each tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) must have a means that enables two-way voice communications between the main deck watch required under § 157.168 and each cargo discharge control station.

(a) Before issuing a letter under § 157.142, the Coast Guard makes an initial inspection of each U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) and each foreign tank vessel whose owner or operator submitted the plans under § 157.102 to determine whether or not, when entering a port, the cargo tanks that carry crude oil meet the following:

(1) After each tank is crude oil washed but not water rinsed, except the bottom of the tank may be flushed with water and stripped, each tank is essentially free of oil residues to a degree acceptable to the Coast Guard inspector.

(2) After the tanks that are to be used as ballast tanks when leaving the port are crude oil washed and stripped but not water rinsed or bottom flushed, they are filled with water and the total volume of crude oil floating on top of the water in these tanks is 0.085 percent or less of the total volume of these tanks.

The owner, operator, and master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that the person designated as the person in charge of COW operations—

The owner, operator, and master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that each member of the crew that has a designated responsibility during COW operations—

(a) The master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that—

(1) Before crude oil washing a cargo tank, the level in each tank with crude oil that is used as a source for crude oil washing is lowered at least one meter;

(i) Its contents are discharged ashore or to another tank; and

(ii) The tank contains only crude oil;

(i) The valves under § 157.122(i)(1) are shut; or

(ii) The blanks under § 157.122(i)(2) are installed;

(i) A visual inspection of a means located outside of the cargo tank that indicates movement of the machine during COW operations;

(ii) An audio inspection during COW operations; or

(iii) An inspection on a ballast voyage, with water as the fluid flowing through the machine;

(5) During the audio inspection under paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section, the COW machine being inspected is the only one operating in that tank;

(6) Before the inspection under paragraph (a)(4)(iii) of this section, the tank that has the COW machine being inspected in it, is gas freed;

(7) Each COW machine that is inspected under paragraph (a)(4)(iii) of this section is inspected at least once after every sixth COW operation of that machine, but no less that once every 12 months;

(i) Is sounded by a means under § 157.128(b); and

(ii) Contains no oil except a minimal quantity near the stripping suction;

(9) Before the tank vessel begins each ballast voyage, each cargo tank and each cargo main, stripping, and COW piping is stripped of crude oil and the strippings are conveyed ashore through the piping under § 157.11(d)(3) or § 157.11(e)(4);

(10) Before water washing the cargo tanks, the piping of the COW system is drained of crude oil;

(11) When the cargo tanks are not being water washed, the hydrant valves under § 157.122(g) are blanked off;

(12) If COW machines that are used as anchors for the piping of the COW system are removed, the means available under § 157.122(l) for anchoring the piping are installed;

(13) The fire main is not connected to the COW system; and

(14) On combination carriers, if flexible hoses under § 157.122(o) are used, those hoses are protectively stowed when not installed in the COW piping system.

Except as allowed in § 157.158, the master of a foreign tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) that has the Crude Oil Washing Operations and Equipment Manual approved under § 157.112 and is operating in the navigable waters of the United States or transferring cargo at a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and the master of a U.S. tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that during each COW operation—

(a) The owner, operator, and master of a tank vessel under § 157.10(e) shall ensure that:

(1) Ballast water is carried in a cargo tank only as allowed under § 157.35;

(2) For oil cargo residue control, at least 25 percent of the cargo tanks are crude oil washed before each ballast voyage and that each cargo tank is crude oil washed at least once every fourth time crude oil is discharged from the tank, but no tank need be crude oil washed more than once during each 120 day period;

(3) Ballast water in a cargo tank that is crude oil washed but not water rinsed during or after the most recent discharge of crude oil from that tank is discharged in accordance with § 157.37(a); and

The master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure that each cargo tank that is crude oil washed during a voyage other than a ballast voyage—

(a) The master of a tank vessel having a COW system under § 157.10(e), § 157.10a(a)(2), or § 157.10c(b)(2) shall ensure the following:

(1) Before each cargo tank is crude oil washed, the oxygen content in the tank is measured at each of the following locations in the tank:

(2) Before each cargo tank with partial bulkheads is crude oil washed, each area of that tank formed by each partial bulkhead is measured in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(3) Before each cargo tank is crude oil washed, the oxygen content in that tank is 8 percent or less by volume at the locations under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(5) During COW operations, a crew member monitors the instrumentation under 46 CFR 32.53-60(a)(1), except if that instrumentation has an alarm that sounds in the cargo control room when the oxygen content exceeds 8 percent by volume.