---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 154.1710"
title: "46"
number: "154.1710"
heading: "Exclusion of air from cargo tank vapor spaces."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/154.1710"
---

# §154.1710. Exclusion of air from cargo tank vapor spaces.


When a vessel is carrying acetaldehyde, butadiene, ethylene oxide, or vinyl chloride, the master shall ensure that air is:

- (a) Purged from the cargo tanks and associated piping before the cargo is loaded; and
- (b) Excluded after the cargo is loaded by maintaining a positive pressure of at least 13.8 kPa gauge (2 psig) by:
  - (1) **Introducing a gas that—**
    - (i) Is not reactive;
    - (ii) Is not flammable; and
    - (iii) Does not contain more than 0.2% oxygen by volume; or
  - (2) **Controlling the cargo temperature.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3703, 9101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

### Source

Source: CGD 74-289, 44 FR 26009, May 3, 1979, unless otherwise noted.