[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR35.05-15]

[Page 477]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 35_OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart 35.05_Officers and Crews
 
Sec. 35.05-15  Tank vessel security--TB/ALL.

    (a) Manned tank vessel. At least one member of the crew of a manned 
tank vessel shall be on board at all times except when the vessel is gas 
free or is moored at a dock or terminal at which watchman service is 
provided.
    (b) Unmanned barge. (1) The owner, managing operator, master, and 
person in charge of a vessel towing a tank barge that need not be 
manned, and each of them, shall be responsible for monitoring the 
security and integrity of the tank barge and for ensuring adherence to 
proper safety precautions. These responsibilities include, but are not 
limited to--
    (i) Ensuring that any tank barge added to the tow has all tank 
openings properly secured; has its freeing-ports and scuppers, if any, 
unobstructed; meets any loadline or freeboard requirements; and neither 
leaks cargo into the water, voids, or cofferdams nor leaks water into 
the tanks, voids, or cofferdams;
    (ii) Ensuring that every tank barge in the tow is properly secured 
within the tow;
    (iii) Ensuring that periodic checks are made of every tank barge in 
the tow for leakage of cargo into the water, voids, or cofferdams and 
for leakage of water into the tanks, voids, or cofferdams;
    (iv) Knowing the cargo of every tank barge in the tow, any hazards 
associated with the cargo, and what to do on discovery of a leak;
    (v) Ensuring that the crew of the vessel know the cargo of every 
tank barge in the tow, any hazards associated with the cargo, and what 
to do on discovery of a leak;
    (vi) Reporting to the Coast Guard any leaks from a tank barge in the 
tow into the water, as required by 33 CFR 151.15; and
    (vii) Ensuring that the crew of the vessel and other personnel in 
the vicinity of the tank barges in the tow follow the proper safety 
precautions for tank vessels, and that no activity takes place in the 
vicinity of the barges that could create a hazard.
    (2) When a barge is moored and contains more oil than the normal 
clingage and unpumpable bilge or sump residues, the barge must be kept 
under surveillance by a person responsible for the security of the barge 
and for keeping unauthorized persons off the barge.
    (3) When a barge is moored and contains no oil but is not gas free:
    (i) It must be maintained under surveillance as required in 
paragraph (b)(2) of this section; or
    (ii) All cargo tank hatches must be clearly marked in not less than 
three inch lettering ``Danger--Keep Out,'' and all hatch covers must be 
closed and dogged down in such a way that the hatch cannot be opened by 
the use of bare hands alone.

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16704, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGD 80-009,48 FR 
36459, Aug. 11, 1983; CGD 79-116, 60 FR 17155, Apr. 4, 1995]

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