General Rules for Tankers Owned or Operating in the USA (2026 Edition)

• Oil Cargoes
• Gas Cargoes and Liquefied Flammable Gases
• Noxious Liquid Substances
• Control of Pollution and Hazardous Substances, including Financial Liabilities
• Chemicals, Marine Pollutants, Dangerous Goods and Hazards
• Ballast Water Management Requirements
• Marine Casualties and Inspections
• Maritime Security Requirements
• Recordkeeping Requirements
• Rules for the Safe Operation of Tankers including Navigation Rules
• Life-Saving Appliances and Fire-Fighting Equipment
• Workplace Safety and Health
• Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements
• Vessel Inspection Alternatives
• Tanker Design, Construction and Ship Stability
• Port and Terminal Operations.

Introduction

The Code is typically updated on a staggered basis annually. This publication contains the most up to date CFRs available in the published annual edition at the time of compilation. Because of the vast scale of regulations, this edition is compiled with a view to create an instantaneous and accessible resource of the most directly relevant regulations to those requiring them in the maritime industry, with a specific focus on tanker operations, both at sea and ashore.

This publication addresses the primary CFR chapters and contains excerpts of the relevant regulations. Specifically, this publication contains materials from the following CFRs:

Title 33 – Navigation and Navigable Waters

Title 40 – Protection of Environment

Title 46 – Shipping

Title 47 – Telecommunication

Title 49 – Transportation.

Some of the subject matters covered include:

• Safe operations of vessels and safety management systems
• Handling, stowage and general dangers of dangerous cargoes
• Individual requirements for chemical cargoes
• Individual requirements for liquefied gas cargoes
• Individual requirements for oil cargoes
• Compatibility of cargoes
• Port and terminal operations
• Tanker construction, design and escort requirements
• Recordkeeping and incident reporting requirements
• Tanker certification and training
• Cargo equipment and safety systems
• Marine telecommunications.

For additional reference, the publication includes the text of the Jones Act, as well as the text of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

Contents Listing

33 CFR - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

PART 26 - Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations

PART 27 - Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation

PART 62 - United States Aids to Navigation System

PART 64 - Marking of Structures, Sunken Vessels and Other Obstructions

PART 66 - Private Aids to Navigation

PART 67 - Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures

PART 72 - Marine Information

PART 80 - COLREGS Demarcation Lines

PART 81 - 72 COLREGS: Implementing Rules

PART 82 - 72 COLREGS: Interpretative Rules

PART 83 - Navigation Rules

PART 84 - Annex I: Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes

PART 86 - Annex III: Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances

PART 87 - Annex IV: Distress Signals

PART 88 - Annex V: Pilot Rules

PART 89 - Inland Navigation Rules: Implementing Rules

PART 90 - Inland Rules: Interpretative Rules

PART 95 - Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug

PART 96 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels and Safety Management Systems

PART 97 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels, Stowage and Securing of Cargoes

PART 101 - Maritime Security: General

PART 104 - Maritime Security: Vessels

PART 125 - Identification Credentials for Persons Requiring Access to Waterfront Facilities or Vessels

PART 126 - Handling of Dangerous Cargo at Waterfront Facilities

PART 127 - Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas and Liquefied Hazardous Gas

PART 138 - Evidence of Financial Responsibility for Water Pollution (Vessels) and OPA 90 Limits of Liability (Vessels, Deepwater Ports and Onshore Facilities)

PART 140 - Outer Continental Shelf Activities: General

PART 141 - Personnel

PART 142 - Workplace Safety and Health

PART 143 - Design and Equipment

PART 144 - Lifesaving Appliances

PART 145 - Fire-fighting Equipment

PART 146 - Operations

PART 147 - Safety Zones

PART 150 - Deepwater Ports: Operations

PART 151 - Pollution: Vessels Carrying Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, Garbage, Municipal or Commercial Waste, and Ballast Water

SECTION 151.1510: Ballast Water Management Requirements

PART 153 - Control of Pollution by Oil and Hazardous Substances, Discharge Removal

PART 154 - Facilities Transferring Oil or Hazardous Material in Bulk

PART 155 - Oil or Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention Regulations for Vessels

PART 156 - Oil and Hazardous Material Transfer Operations

PART 157 - Rules for the Protection of the Marine Environment Relating to Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk

PART 158 - Reception Facilities for Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, and Garbage

PART 159 - Marine Sanitation Devices

PART 161 - Ports and Waterways Safety: Vessel Traffic Management

PART 164 - Navigation Safety Regulations

PART 168 - Escort Requirements for Certain Tankers

PART 169 - Ship Reporting Systems

40 CFR - PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

PART 63 - SUBPART Y: National Emission Standards for Marine Tank Vessel Loading Operations

PART 98 - SUBPART W: Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

46 CFR - SHIPPING

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.01: Inspecting and Certificating of Vessels

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.10: Fees

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.20: Reports and Forms

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.75: Approvals of Safety Equipment, Materials and Installations, and Qualifications for Construction Personnel

PART 4 - Marine Casualties and Investigations

SUBPART 4.06: Mandatory Chemical Testing Following Serious Marine Incidents Involving Vessels in Commercial Service

PART 8 - Vessel Inspection Alternatives

PART 13 - Certification of Tankermen

PART 16 - Chemical Testing

PART 30 - General Provisions

PART 31 - Inspection and Certification

PART 32 - Special Equipment, Machinery, and Hull Requirements

SUBPART 32.53: Inert Gas System

PART 34 - Fire Fighting Equipment

PART 35 - Operations

SUBPART 35.07: Logbook Entries

SUBPART 35.10: Fire and Emergency Requirements

SUBPART 35.20: Navigation

SUBPART 35.30: General Safety Rules

SUBPART 35.35: Cargo Handling

PART 36 - Elevated Temperature Cargoes

PART 37 - Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes

PART 38 - Liquefied Flammable Gases

PART 39 - Vapor Control Systems

PART 42 - Domestic and Foreign Voyages by Sea

PART 54 - SUBPART 54.15: SECTION 54.15-25: Minimum Relief Capacities for Cargo Tanks Containing Compressed or Liquefied Gas

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.04: Piping Classification

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.50: Design Requirements Pertaining to Specific Systems

PART 58 - Main and Auxiliary Machinery and Related Systems

PART 64 - Marine Portable Tanks and Cargo Handling Systems

PART 90 - General Provisions

PART 91 - Inspection and Certification

PART 92 - Construction and Arrangement

PART 93 - Stability

PART 95 - Fire Protection Equipment

PART 96 - Vessel Control and Miscellaneous Systems and Equipment

PART 97 - Operations

PART 98 - Special Construction, Arrangement, and Other Provisions for Certain Dangerous Cargoes in Bulk

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-29: Combustible Liquid Cargo Carriers

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-31: Flammable or Combustible Cargo with a Flashpoint Below 60°C (140°F), Carriers of Liquid-Sulphur or Inorganic Acid

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-32: Bulk Liquefied Flammable Gas and Ammonia Carriers

PART 150 - Compatibility of Cargoes

PART 153 - Ships Carrying Bulk Liquid, Liquefied Gas, or Compressed Gas Hazardous Materials

SUBPART A: General

SUBPART B: Design and Equipment

SUBPART C: Operations

SUBPART D: Test and Calculation Procedures for Determining Stripping Quantity, Clingage NLS Residue, and Total NLS Residue

PART 154 - Safety Standards for Self-Propelled Vessels Carrying Bulk Liquefied Gases

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.017: General Provisions; Valves, Pressure-Vacuum Relief, for Tank Vessels

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.018: Safety Relief Valves, Liquefied Compressed Gas

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.050: Pollution Prevention Equipment

PART 170 - Stability Requirements for All Inspected Vessels

PART 172 - SUBPART F: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Hazardous Liquid Regulated Under Subchapter O of This Chapter

PART 172 - SUBPART G: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Bulk Liquefied Gas Regulated Under Subchapter O of this Chapter

PART 197 - SUBPART C: Benzene

PART 199 - SUBPART B: Requirements for All Vessels

PART 199 - SUBPART D: Additional Requirements for Cargo Vessels

47 CFR - TELECOMMUNICATION

PART 80 - Stations in the Maritime Services

SUBPART A: General Information

SUBPART B: Applications and Licenses

SUBPART C: Operating Requirements and Procedures

SUBPART D: Operator Requirements

SUBPART E: General Technical Standards

SUBPART F: Equipment Authorization for Compulsory Ships

SUBPART G: Safety Watch Requirements and Procedures

SUBPART H: Frequencies

SUBPART I: Station Documents

SUBPART J: Public Coast Stations

SUBPART K: Private Coast Stations and Marine Utility Stations

SUBPART L: Operational Fixed Stations

SUBPART M: Stations in the Radiodetermination Service

SUBPART N: Maritime Support Stations

SUBPART O: Alaska Fixed Stations

SUBPART P: Standards for Computing Public Coast Station VHF Coverage

SUBPART R: Technical Equipment Requirements for Cargo Vessels Not Subject to Subpart W

SUBPART S: Compulsory Radiotelephone Installations for Small Passenger Boats

SUBPART T: Radiotelephone Installation Required for Vessels on the Great Lakes

SUBPART U: Radiotelephone Installations Required by the Bridge-to-Bridge Act

SUBPART V: Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs)

SUBPART W: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

SUBPART X: Voluntary Radio Installations

49 CFR - TRANSPORTATION

PART 130 - Oil Spill Prevention and Response Plans

PART 171 - SUBPART B: Incident Reporting, Notification, BOE Approvals and Authorization

PART 172 - Subpart D: SECTION 172.322: Marine Pollutants

PART 172 - SUBPART D: SECTION 172.328: Cargo Tanks

PART 176 - SUBPART H: Detailed Requirements for Class 2 (Compressed Gas) Materials

PART 176 - SUBPART I: Detailed Requirements for Class 3 (Flammable) and Combustible Liquid Materials

PART 193 - Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards

JONES ACT

OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990

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