[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: 33CFR157.37]

[Page 470-471]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 157--RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT RELATING TO 
TANK VESSELS CARRYING OIL IN BULK--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart C--Vessel Operation
 
Sec. 157.37  Discharge of oily mixtures from oil cargoes.

    (a) A tank vessel may not discharge an oily mixture into the sea 
from a cargo tank, slop tank, or cargo pump room bilge unless the 
vessel:
    (1) Is more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest land;
    (2) Is proceeding en route;
    (3) Is discharging at an instantaneous rate of oil content not 
exceeding 30 liters per nautical mile;
    (4) Is an existing vessel and the total quantity of oil discharged 
into the sea does not exceed 1/15,000 of the total quantity of the cargo 
that the discharge formed a part, or is a new vessel and the total 
quantity of oil discharged into the sea does not exceed 1/30,000 of the 
total quantity of the cargo that the discharge formed a part;
    (5) Discharges:
    (i) Through the above waterline discharge point described in Sec. 
157.11(b)(2);
    (ii) In accordance with Paragraph 5 of Appendix E to this part, if 
the vessel is an existing vessel with a Part Flow System meeting that 
appendix; or
    (iii) Below the waterline in accordance with paragraph (e) of this 
section;
    (6) Has in operation a cargo monitor and control system required by 
Sec. 157.12 that is designed for use with the oily mixture being 
discharged, except that the system may be operated manually if:
    (i) The automatic system fails during a ballast voyage;
    (ii) The failure is recorded in the Oil Record Book;
    (iii) The master ensures that the discharge is constantly monitored 
visually and promptly terminated when oil is detected in the discharge; 
and
    (iv) The system is operated manually only until the ballast voyage 
is completed; and
    (7) Is outside the ``Special Areas'' defined in Regulation 1 (10) of 
Annex I to the MARPOL 73/78.
    (b) A seagoing tank vessel of 150 gross tons or more that carries 
asphalt

[[Page 471]]

or other products whose physical properties inhibit effective product/
water separation and monitoring must transfer all oil cargo residues and 
tank washings from such cargoes to a reception facility.
    (c) Each cargo monitor must be maintained and operated in accordance 
with its instructions manual.
    (d) All discharge data recorded by a cargo monitor must be retained 
for at least three years. The data for the most recent year must be 
retained on board the vessel.
    (e) Ballast water containing an oily mixture may be discharged below 
the waterline at sea by gravity if--
    (1) The ballast is not from a slop tank;
    (2) Examination with an oil-water interface detector shows that oil-
water separation has taken place; and
    (3) The oil layer is high enough in the tank so that it will not be 
discharged.

(The information collection requirement contained in paragraph (d) of 
this section was approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 
OMB control number 2115-0518)

[CGD 74-32, 40 FR 48283, Oct. 14, 1975, as amended by CGD 76-088b, 48 FR 
45721, Oct. 6, 1983; USCG-2000-7641, 66 FR 55573, Nov. 2, 2001]