General Rules for Tankers Owned or Operating in the USA (2025 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.

33 CFR - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS 1

PART 26 - Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations 3

PART 27 - Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation 7

PART 62 - United States Aids to Navigation System 11

PART 64 - Marking of Structures, Sunken Vessels and Other Obstructions 21

PART 66 - Private Aids to Navigation 25

PART 67 - Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures 35

PART 72 - Marine Information 51

PART 80 - COLREGS Demarcation Lines 55

PART 81 - 72 COLREGS: Implementing Rules 73

PART 82 - 72 COLREGS: Interpretative Rules 77

PART 83 - Navigation Rules 79

PART 84 - Annex I: Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes 97

PART 86 - Annex III: Technical Details of Sound Signal Appliances 103

PART 87 - Annex IV: Distress Signals 107

PART 88 - Annex V: Pilot Rules 109

PART 89 - Inland Navigation Rules: Implementing Rules 111

PART 90 - Inland Rules: Interpretative Rules 115

PART 95 - Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug 117

PART 96 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels and Safety Management Systems 121

PART 97 - Rules for the Safe Operation of Vessels, Stowage and Securing of Cargoes 135

PART 101 - Maritime Security: General 141

PART 104 - Maritime Security: Vessels 159

PART 125 - Identification Credentials for Persons Requiring Access to Waterfront Facilities or Vessels 185

PART 126 - Handling of Dangerous Cargo at Waterfront Facilities 195

PART 127 - Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas and Liquefied Hazardous Gas 205

PART 138 - Evidence of Financial Responsibility for Water Pollution (Vessels) and OPA 90 Limits of Liability (Vessels, Deepwater Ports and Onshore Facilities) 233

PART 140 - Outer Continental Shelf Activities: General 253

PART 141 - Personnel 261

PART 142 - Workplace Safety and Health 267

PART 143 - Design and Equipment 271

PART 144 - Lifesaving Appliances 277

PART 145 - Fire-fighting Equipment 281

PART 146 - Operations 285

PART 147 - Safety Zones 299

PART 150 - Deepwater Ports: Operations 315

PART 151 - Pollution: Vessels Carrying Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, Garbage, Municipal or Commercial Waste, and Ballast Water 347

SECTION 151.1510: Ballast Water Management Requirements 390

PART 153 - Control of Pollution by Oil and Hazardous Substances, Discharge Removal 405

PART 154 - Facilities Transferring Oil or Hazardous Material in Bulk 411

PART 155 - Oil or Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention Regulations for Vessels 513

PART 156 - Oil and Hazardous Material Transfer Operations 613

PART 157 - Rules for the Protection of the Marine Environment Relating to Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk 629

PART 158 - Reception Facilities for Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, and Garbage 695

PART 159 - Marine Sanitation Devices 707

PART 161 - Ports and Waterways Safety: Vessel Traffic Management 727

PART 164 - Navigation Safety Regulations 749

PART 168 - Escort Requirements for Certain Tankers 775

PART 169 - Ship Reporting Systems 779

40 CFR - PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT 787

PART 63 - SUBPART Y: National Emission Standards for Marine Tank Vessel Loading Operations 789

PART 98 - SUBPART W: Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems 823

46 CFR - SHIPPING 921

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.01: Inspecting and Certificating of Vessels 923

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.10: Fees 939

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.20: Reports and Forms 947

PART 2 - SUBPART 2.75: Approvals of Safety Equipment, Materials and Installations, and Qualifications for Construction Personnel 949

PART 4 - Marine Casualties and Investigations 953

SUBPART 4.06: Mandatory Chemical Testing Following Serious Marine Incidents Involving Vessels in Commercial Service 960

PART 8 - Vessel Inspection Alternatives 971

PART 13 - Certification Of Tankermen 985

PART 16 - Chemical Testing 1007

PART 30 - General Provisions 1017

PART 31 - Inspection and Certification 1041

PART 32 - Special Equipment, Machinery, and Hull Requirements 1059

SUBPART 32.53: Inert Gas System 1072

PART 34 - Fire Fighting Equipment 1091

PART 35 - Operations 1113

SUBPART 35.07: Logbook Entries 1121

SUBPART 35.10: Fire and Emergency Requirements 1122

SUBPART 35.20: Navigation 1123

SUBPART 35.30: General Safety Rules 1126

SUBPART 35.35: Cargo Handling 1129

PART 36 - Elevated Temperature Cargoes 1137

PART 37 - Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes 1139

PART 38 - Liquefied Flammable Gases 1155

PART 39 - Vapor Control Systems 1173

PART 42 - Domestic and Foreign Voyages by Sea 1189

PART 54 - SUBPART 54.15: SECTION 54.15-25: Minimum Relief Capacities for Cargo Tanks Containing Compressed or Liquefied Gas 1251

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.04: Piping Classification 1255

PART 56 - SUBPART 56.50: Design Requirements Pertaining to Specific Systems 1257

PART 58 - Main and Auxiliary Machinery and Related Systems 1283

PART 64 - Marine Portable Tanks and Cargo Handling Systems 1313

PART 90 - General Provisions 1321

PART 91 - Inspection and Certification 1329

PART 92 - Construction and Arrangement 1349

PART 93 - Stability 1361

PART 95 - Fire Protection Equipment 1363

PART 96 - Vessel Control and Miscellaneous Systems and Equipment 1385

PART 97 - Operations 1391

PART 98 - Special Construction, Arrangement, and Other Provisions for Certain Dangerous Cargoes in Bulk 1407

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-29: Combustible Liquid Cargo Carriers 1425

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 1427

PART 111 - SUBPART 111.105: SECTION 111.105-32: Bulk Liquefied Flammable Gas and Ammonia Carriers 1429

PART 150 - Compatibility of Cargoes 1431

PART 153 - Ships Carrying Bulk Liquid, Liquefied Gas, or Compressed Gas Hazardous Materials 1487

SUBPART A: General 1490

SUBPART B: Design and Equipment 1499

SUBPART C: Operations 1519

SUBPART D: Test and Calculation Proce-dures for Determining Stripping Quan-tity, Clingage NLS Residue, and Total NLS Residue 1539

PART 154 - Safety Standards for Self-Propelled Vessels Carrying Bulk Liquefied Gases 1563

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.017: General Provisions; Valves, Pressure-Vacuum Relief, for Tank Vessels 1625

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.018: Safety Relief Valves, Liquefied Compressed Gas 1629

PART 162 - SUBPART 162.050: Pollution Prevention Equipment 1633

PART 170 - Stability Requirements for All Inspected Vessels 1653

PART 172 - SUBPART F: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Hazardous Liquid Regulated Under Subchapter O of this Chapter 1673

PART 172 - SUBPART G: Special Rules Pertaining to a Ship that Carries a Bulk Liquefied Gas Regulated Under Subchapter O of this Chapter 1675

PART 197 - SUBPART C: Benzene 1679

PART 199 - SUBPART B: Requirements for All Vessels 1707

PART 199 - SUBPART D: Additional Requirements for Cargo Vessels 1729

47 CFR - TELECOMMUNICATION 1733

PART 80 - Stations in the Maritime Services 1735

SUBPART A: General Information 1740

SUBPART B: Applications and Licenses 1751

SUBPART C: Operating Requirements and Procedures 1761

SUBPART D: Operator Requirements 1776

SUBPART E: General Technical Standards 1780

SUBPART F: Equipment Authorization for Compulsory Ships 1796

SUBPART G: Safety Watch Requirements and Procedures 1799

SUBPART H: Frequencies 1808

SUBPART I: Station Documents 1838

SUBPART J: Public Coast Stations 1844

SUBPART K: Private Coast Stations and Marine Utility Stations 1847

SUBPART L: Operational Fixed Stations 1850

SUBPART M: Stations in the Radiodetermination Service 1851

SUBPART N: Maritime Support Stations 1851

SUBPART O: Alaska Fixed Stations 1852

SUBPART P: Standards for Computing Public Coast Station VHF Coverage 1853

SUBPART R: Technical Equipment Requirements for Cargo Vessels Not Subject to Subpart W 1862

SUBPART S: Compulsory Radiotelephone Installations for Small Passenger Boats 1868

SUBPART T: Radiotelephone Installation Required for Vessels on the Great Lakes 1875

SUBPART U: Radiotelephone Installations Required by the Bridge-to-Bridge Act 1878

SUBPART V: Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs) 1880

SUBPART W: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) 1882

SUBPART X: Voluntary Radio Installations 1902

49 CFR - TRANSPORTATION 1907

PART 130 - Oil Spill Prevention and Response Plans 1909

PART 171 - SUBPART B: Incident Reporting, Notification, BOE Approvals and Authorization 1919

PART 172 - SUBPART D: SECTION 172.322: Marine Pollutants 1923

PART 172 - SUBPART D: SECTION 172.328: Cargo Tanks 1925

PART 176 - SUBPART H: Detailed Requirements for Class 2 (Compressed Gas) Materials 1927

PART 176 - SUBPART I: Detailed Requirements for Class 3 (Flammable) and Combustible Liquid Materials 1929

PART 193 - Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards 1933

JONES ACT 1955

OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 1967