[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR156.170]

[Page 442-443]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 156--OIL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TRANSFER OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart A--Oil and Hazardous Material Transfer Operations
 
Sec. 156.170  Equipment tests and inspections.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person 
may use any equipment listed in paragraph (c) of this section for 
transfer operations unless the vessel or facility operator, as 
appropriate, tests and inspects the equipment in accordance with 
paragraphs (b), (c) and (f) of this section and the equipment is in the 
condition specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) During any test or inspection required by this section, the 
entire external surface of the hose must be accessible.
    (c) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section:
    (1) Each nonmetallic transfer hose must:
    (i) Have no unrepaired loose covers, kinks, bulges, soft spots or 
any other defect which would permit the discharge of oil or hazardous 
material through the hose material, and no gouges, cuts or slashes that 
penetrate the first layer of hose reinforcement as defined in Sec. 
156.120(i).
    (ii) Have no external deterioration and, to the extent internal 
inspection is possible with both ends of the hose open, no internal 
deterioration;
    (iii) Not burst, bulge, leak, or abnormally distort under static 
liquid pressure at least 1\1/2\ times the maximum allowable working 
pressure; and
    (iv) Hoses not meeting the requirements of paragraph (c)(1)(i) of 
this section may be acceptable after a static liquid pressure test is 
successfully completed in the presence of the COTP. The test medium is 
not required to be water.
    (2) Each transfer system relief valve must open at or below the 
pressure at which it is set to open;
    (3) Each pressure gauge must show pressure within 10 percent of the 
actual pressure;
    (4) Each loading arm and each transfer pipe system, including each 
metallic hose, must not leak under static liquid pressure at least 1\1/
2\ times the maximum allowable working pressure; and
    (5) Each item of remote operating or indicating equipment, such as a 
remotely operated valve, tank level alarm, or emergency shutdown device, 
must perform its intended function.
    (d) No person may use any hose in underwater service for transfer 
operations unless the operator of the vessel or facility has tested and 
inspected it in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(4) of this 
section, as applicable.
    (e) The test fluid used for the testing required by this section is 
limited to liquids that are compatible with the hose tube as recommended 
by the hose manufacturer.
    (f) The frequency of the tests and inspections required by this 
section must be:
    (1) For facilities, annually or not less than 30 days prior to the 
first transfer conducted past one year from the date of the last tests 
and inspections;
    (2) For a facility in caretaker status, not less than 30 days prior 
to the first transfer after the facility is removed from caretaker 
status; and
    (3) For vessels, annually or as part of the biennial and mid-period 
inspections.
    (g) If a facility or vessel collects vapor emitted from a vessel 
cargo tank

[[Page 443]]

with a vapor control system, the system must not be used unless the 
following tests and inspections are satisfactorily completed:
    (1) Each vapor hose, vapor collection arm, pressure or vacuum relief 
valve, and pressure sensor is tested and inspected in accordance with 
paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) of this section;
    (2) Each remote operating or indicating device is tested for proper 
operation in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section;
    (3) Each detonation arrester required by Sec. 154.820, Sec. 
154.826(a), and Sec. 154.828(a) of this chapter or 46 CFR 39.40-3(d), 
and each flame arrester required by Sec. 154.826(a), Sec. 154.828 (a) 
and (c) of this chapter has been inspected internally within the last 
year, or sooner if operational experience has shown that frequent 
clogging or rapid deterioration is likely; and
    (4) Each hydrocarbon and oxygen analyzer required by Sec. 154.820(a) 
and Sec. 154.824 (d) and (e) of this chapter or 46 CFR 39.40-3(a) is 
calibrated:
    (i) Within the previous two weeks, or
    (ii) Within 24 hours prior to operation when the vapor control 
system is operated less frequently than once a week.
    (h) Upon the request of the owner or operator, the COTP may approve 
alternative methods of compliance to the testing requirements of 
paragraph (c) of this section if the COTP determines that the 
alternative methods provide an equal level of protection.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
2115-0096)

[CGD 75-124, 45 FR 7177, Jan. 31, 1980, as amended by CGD 88-102, 55 FR 
25445, June 21, 1990; CGD 86-034, 55 FR 36256, Sept. 4, 1990; CGD 93-
056, 61 FR 41461, Aug. 8, 1996]