[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: 33CFR168.01]

[Page 784-785]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 168--ESCORT REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TANKERS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 168.01  Purpose.

    (a) This part prescribes regulations in accordance with section 
4116(c) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) (Pub. L. 101-380). The 
regulations will reduce the risk of oil spills from laden, single hull 
tankers over 5,000 GT by requiring that these tankers be escorted by at 
least two suitable escort vessels. The escort vessels will be 
immediately available to influence the tankers' speed and course in the 
event of a steering or propulsion equipment failure, thereby reducing 
the possibility of groundings or collisions.

[[Page 785]]

    (b) The regulations in this part establish minimum escort vessel 
requirements. Nothing in these regulations should be construed as 
relieving the master of a tanker from the duty to operate the vessel in 
a safe and prudent manner, taking into account the navigational 
constraints of the waterways to be traversed, other vessel traffic, and 
anticipated weather, tide, and sea conditions, which may require reduced 
speeds, greater assistance from escort vessels, or other operational 
precautions.