§157.140. Tank vessel inspections. — Inbound Citations

(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.

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).

(1) A document from an authorized CS that the vessel has passed the inspections under § 157.140; or

(i) A document from an authorized CS or the government of the vessel's flag state certifying that the vessel passed the inspections under § 157.140; or

The Coast Guard waives the requirement for the letter under § 157.116(b), if a U.S. tank vessel engages in a voyage, or under § 157.118(b)(2)(ii), if a foreign tank vessel enters the navigable waters of the United States or transfers cargo at a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, for the purpose of being inspected under § 157.140.

(b) The COW machines in each tank must have sufficient nozzles with the proper diameter, working pressure, movement, and timing to allow the tank vessel to pass the inspections under § 157.140.

Each cargo tank must be designed for longitudinal and transverse drainage of crude oil to allow the tank vessel to pass the inspections under § 157.140.

(10) The volume of water used for water rinsing recorded during COW operations when passing the inspections under § 157.140.

If the inspections under § 157.140 are passed, the Coast Guard issues to the tank vessel a letter that states that the vessel complies with this subpart.

(a) If more than one tank vessel is constructed from the same plans, the owner or operator may submit a written request 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, for only one of those tank vessels to be inspected under § 157.140.

(a) Before the inspections under § 157.140 are conducted by the Coast Guard, the owner or operator of a foreign tank vessel that is to be inspected must submit to the Coast Guard inspector evidence that the COW system has been installed in accordance with the plans accepted under § 157.106.

After passing the inspections under § 157.140, the owner, operator, and master shall ensure that the following are recorded in the Crude Oil Washing Operations and Equipment Manual approved under § 157.112:

(a) The tank vessel passes the inspections under § 157.140 using the changed characteristics;

(a) If a U.S. tank vessel has tanks similar in dimensions and internal structure, the owner or operator may submit a written request to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, of the zone in which the COW system is inspected, for only one of those tanks to be inspected under § 157.140(a)(1).

(a) If a foreign tank vessel has tanks similar in dimensions and internal structure, the owner or operator may submit a written request 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, for only one of those tanks to be inspected under § 157.140(a)(1).

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

(b) If it is to be used as a ballast tank when leaving the discharge port, is ballasted before the vessel departs from that discharge port so that the tank may be inspected under § 157.140(a)(2).