---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 159.7"
title: "33"
number: "159.7"
heading: "Requirements for vessel operators."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/159.7"
---

# §159.7. Requirements for vessel operators.

- (a) No person may operate any vessel equipped with installed toilet facilities unless it is equipped with:
  - (1) An operable Type II or III device that has a label on it under [§ 159.16](/cfr/33/159.16.md) or that is certified under [§ 159.12](/cfr/33/159.12.md) or [§ 159.12a](/cfr/33/159.12a.md); or
  - (2) An operable Type I device that has a label on it under [§ 159.16](/cfr/33/159.16.md) or that is certified under [§ 159.12](/cfr/33/159.12.md), if the vessel is 19.7 meters (65 feet) or less in length.
- (b) When operating a vessel on a body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated sewage is prohibited by the Environmental Protection Agency under 40 CFR [140.3](/cfr/40/140.3.md) or [140.4](/cfr/40/140.4.md), the operator must secure each Type I or Type II device in a manner which prevents discharge of treated or untreated sewage. Acceptable methods of securing the device include—
  - (1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle;
  - (2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position;
  - (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or
  - (4) **Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock.**
- (c) When operating a vessel on a body of water where the discharge of untreated sewage is prohibited by the Environmental Protection Agency under [40 CFR 140.3](/cfr/40/140.3.md), the operator must secure each Type III device in a manner which prevents discharge of sewage. Acceptable methods of securing the device include—
  - (1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle;
  - (2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or
  - (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position.

## Notes

### Amendments

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

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1322(b)(1); 49 CFR 1.45(b). Subpart E also issued under authority of sec. 1(a)(4), Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 73-83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

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