(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, this subpart applies to:

(1) A U.S. crude oil tanker or product carrier of 100,000 DWT tons (metric) or more or combination carrier of 50,000 DWT tons (metric) or more, that has a keel laying date on or after January 1, 1975.

(2) A new (as defined in 46 U.S.C. 3701) crude oil tanker or product carrier, or foreign flag crude oil tanker or product carrier of 20,000 DWT tons or more entering the navigable waters of the U.S.

(3) A crude oil tanker that is equipped with a cargo tank cleaning system that uses crude oil washing.

(4) An existing product carrier of 20,000 deadweight tons (metric) or more that has tank washing machines with a capacity of more than 60 cubic meters per hour after May 31, 1983.

(5) Any other U.S. or foreign flag:

(i) Crude oil tanker or product carrier of 70,000 deadweight tons (metric) and over after May 31, 1981;

(ii) Crude oil tanker between 20,000 and 70,000 deadweight tons (metric) after May 31, 1983;

(iii) Product carrier between 40,000 and 70,000 deadweight tons (metric) after May 31, 1983.

(b) This subpart does not apply to vessels designed to carry only:

(1) Liquefied gas cargo; or

(2) Grade E cargo that is carried at a temperature lower than 5 °C below its flash point.

(c) This part does not apply to vessels as stated in 46 U.S.C. 3702.

[CGD 77-057a, 44 FR 66501, Nov. 19, 1979, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51043, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51198, Sept. 30, 1997]

(a) The Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG-DCO-D) grants exemptions for crude oil tankers of less than 40,000 deadweight tons not fitted with high capacity tank washing machines, if the vessel's owner can show that compliance would be unreasonable and impracticable due to the vessel's design characteristics.

(b) Requests for exemptions must be submitted in writing to: Commandant (CG-OES), Attn: Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509.

(c) Each request must be supported by documentation showing that:

(1) The system would be detrimental to the safe operation of the vessel;

(2) It is physically impracticable to install the system; or

(3) Adequate maintenance of the system would be impossible.

(d) The vessel's owner may request a conference. The exemption request file will be available for use in the conference and additional arguments or evidence in any form may be presented. The conference will be recorded. The presiding officer summarizes the material presented at the conference and submits written recommendations to the Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG-DCO-D).

(e) The Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG-DCO-D) reviews the exemption request file and decides whether to grant or deny the exemption. The decision shall include an explanation of the basis on which the exemption is granted or denied, and constitutes final agency action.

[CGD 77-057a, 44 FR 66502, Nov. 19, 1979, as amended by CGD 82-063b, 48 FR 29486, June 27, 1983; CGD 88-070, 53 FR 34534, Sept. 7, 1988; CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50461, Sept. 29, 1995; CGD 96-041, 61 FR 50727, Sept. 27, 1996; CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51043, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49227, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2013-0671, 78 FR 60147, Sept. 30, 2013]

Unless the cargo tanks are gas free, the master of each tankship to which this subpart applies shall ensure that the inert gas system is operated as necessary to maintain an inert atmosphere in the cargo tanks.

[USCG-2001-10224, 66 FR 48619, Sept. 21, 2001]

(a) Each tankship to which this subpart applies must have an inert gas system that meets the requirements of this subpart and is approved in accordance with 46 CFR 50.20.

(b) Each inert gas system must be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS II-2, regulation 62, with the following provisions:

(1) Acceptable types of water seals include the wet and semiwet type. Other types of seals may be accepted on a case by case basis if approval is given by the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center.

(2) If a vapor collection system required to meet part 39 of this subchapter is connected to the inert gas system, the instruction manual required by SOLAS II-2, regulation 62.21 must include procedures relating to vapor collection operations.

[CGD 74-127, 41 FR 3843, Jan. 26, 1976, as amended by CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51198, Sept. 30, 1997]

Each inert gas system must be designed to enable the operator to maintain a gas pressure of 100 millimeters (4 inches) of water on filled cargo tanks and during loading and unloading of cargo tanks.

[USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65160, Oct. 31, 2008]