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Title 46: Shipping
PART 13—CERTIFICATION OF TANKERMEN

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Subpart A—General

§ 13.101   Purpose.

This part describes the various tankerman endorsements issued by the Coast Guard and prescribes the requirements for obtaining an endorsement as a “Tankerman-PIC,” “Tankerman-PIC (Barge),” “Tankerman-Assistant,” or “Tankerman-Engineer” to a merchant mariner's document.

§ 13.103   Definitions.

As used in this part:

Approved training means training that is approved by the Coast Guard or meets the requirements of §10.309 of this chapter.

Cargo engineer means a licensed person on a dangerous-liquid tankship or a liquefied-gas tankship whose primary responsibility is maintaining the cargo system and cargo-handling equipment.

Competent person means a person designated as such in accordance with 29 CFR 1915.7.

Dangerous liquid means a liquid listed in 46 CFR 153.40 that is not a liquefied gas as defined in this part. Liquid cargoes in bulk listed in 46 CFR Part 153, Table 2, are not dangerous-liquid cargoes when carried by non-oceangoing barges.

Directly supervised means being in the direct line of sight of the person in charge, or maintaining direct, two-way communications by a convenient, reliable means, such as a predetermined working frequency over a hand-held radio.

DL means dangerous liquid.

IMO means the International Maritime Organization.

Liquefied gas means a cargo that has a vapor pressure of 172 kPa (25 psia) or more at 37.8 C (100 F).

LG means liquefied gas.

Liquid cargo in bulk means a liquid or liquefied gas listed in 46 CFR 153.40 and carried as a liquid cargo or liquid-cargo residue in integral, fixed, or portable tanks, except a liquid cargo carried in a portable tank actually loaded and discharged from a vessel with the contents intact.

Marine chemist means a person certificated by the National Fire Protection Association.

MMD means a merchant mariner's document issued by the Coast Guard.

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) for the purposes of part 13 means the officer or individual so designated at one of the Regional Examination Centers, or any person so designated by the Commandant.

Participation, when used with regard to the service on transfers required for tankerman by §13.120, 13.203, or 13.303, means either actual participation in the transfers or close observation of how the transfers are conducted and supervised.

PIC means a person in charge.

Regional examination center (REC) means an office of an OCMI that performs licensing and certification.

Restricted Tankerman endorsement means a valid tankerman endorsement on an MMD restricting its holder as the OCMI deems appropriate—for instance, to one or a combination of the following: A specific cargo or cargoes; a specific vessel or vessels; a specific facility or facilities; a specific employer or employers; a specific activity or activities (such as loading or unloading in a cargo transfer); or a particular area of water.

Self-propelled tank vessel means a self-propelled tank vessel other than a tankship.

Simulated transfer means a transfer practiced in a course meeting the requirements of §13.121 that uses simulation supplying part of the service on transfers required for tankerman by §13.203 or 13.303.

Tank barge means a non-self-propelled tank vessel.

Tankship means a self-propelled tank vessel constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo spaces.

Tank vessel means a vessel that is constructed or adapted to carry, or that carries, oil or hazardous material in bulk as cargo or cargo residue, and that—

(a) Is a vessel of the United States;

(b) Operates on the navigable waters of the United States; or

(c) Transfers oil or hazardous material in a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Tankerman-Assistant means a person holding a valid “Tankerman-Assistant” endorsement to his or her MMD.

Tankerman-Engineer means a person holding a valid “Tankerman-Engineer” endorsement to his or her MMD.

Tankerman-PIC means a person holding a valid “Tankerman-PIC” endorsement to his or her MMD.

Tankerman-PIC (Barge) means a person holding a valid “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” endorsement to his or her MMD.

Tankship means any tank vessel constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk as cargo or as cargo residue and propelled by power or sail.

Transfer means any movement of dangerous liquid or liquefied gas as cargo in bulk or as cargo residue to, from, or within a vessel by means of pumping, gravitation, or displacement. Section 13.127 describes what qualifies as participation in a creditable transfer.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25127, May 8, 1997; USCG–2006–25535, 71 FR 48483, Aug. 21, 2006]

§ 13.105   Paperwork approval.

(a) This section lists the control numbers assigned by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 [Pub. L. 96–511] for the reporting and recordkeeping requirements in this part.

(b) OMB has assigned the following control numbers to the sections indicated:

(1) OMB 1625–0040—46 CFR 13.113, 13.115, 13.117, 13.201, 13.203, 13.205, 13.301, 13.303, 13.305, 13.401, 13.403, 13.405, 13.501, 13.503, 13.505.

(2) OMB 1625–0028—46 CFR 13.121, 13.207, 13.209, 13.307, 13.309, 13.407, 13.409, 13.507, 13.509.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by USCG-2004–18884, 69 FR 58343, Sept. 30, 2004]

§ 13.107   Tankerman endorsement: General.

(a) If an applicant meets the requirements of subpart B of this part, the OCMI at an REC may endorse his or her MMD as “Tankerman-PIC” with the appropriate cargo classification or classifications. A person holding this endorsement and meeting the other requirements of 33 CFR 155.710(a) may act as a PIC of a transfer of fuel oil, of a transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning on any tank vessel. That person may also act as a Tankerman-Engineer, provided that he or she also holds an engineer's license.

(b) If an applicant meets the requirements of subpart C of this part, the OCMI at an REC may endorse his or her MMD as “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” with the appropriate cargo classification or classifications. A person holding this endorsement and meeting the other requirements of 33 CFR 155.710(b) may act as a PIC of a transfer of liquid cargo in bulk only on a tank barge.

(c) If an applicant meets the requirements of subpart D of this part, the OCMI at an REC may endorse his or her MMD as “Tankerman-Assistant” with the appropriate cargo classification or classifications. No person holding this endorsement may act as a PIC of any transfer of fuel oil, of any transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning unless he or she also holds an endorsement authorizing service as PIC. He or she may, however, without being directly supervised by the PIC, perform duties relative to cargo and cargo-handling equipment assigned by the PIC of transfers of fuel oil, of transfers of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning. When performing these duties, he or she shall maintain continuous two-way voice communications with the PIC.

(d) If an applicant meets the requirements of subpart E of this part, the OCMI at an REC may endorse his or her MMD as Tankerman-Engineer. No person holding this endorsement may act as a PIC or “Tankerman-Assistant” of any transfer of fuel oil, of any transfer of liquid cargo in bulk, or of cargo-tank cleaning unless he or she also holds an endorsement authorizing such service. A person holding this endorsement and acting in this capacity has the primary responsibility, on his or her self-propelled tank vessel carrying DL or LG, for maintaining both the cargo systems and equipment for transfer of liquids in bulk and the bunkering systems and equipment. No person licensed under part 10 of this chapter may serve as a chief engineer, first assistant engineer, or cargo engineer aboard an inspected self-propelled tank vessel when liquid cargo in bulk or cargo residue is carried unless he or she holds this endorsement or equivalent.

(e) If an applicant meets the requirements of §13.111, the OCMI at an REC may place on his or her MMD an endorsement as a “Tankerman-PIC” restricted according to the definitions of “restricted Tankerman endorsement” in §13.103.

(f) A tankerman wishing to obtain an endorsement that he or she does not hold shall apply at an REC referenced in §10.105 of this chapter. If he or she meets all requirements for the new endorsement, the REC may issue a new MMD including the endorsement.

(g) This section does not apply to any person solely by reason of his or her involvement in bunkering or fueling.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25127, May 8, 1997; USCG–2008–0906, 73 FR 56508, Sept. 29, 2008]

§ 13.109   Tankerman endorsement: Authorized cargoes.

(a) Each tankerman endorsement described in §13.107 will expressly limit the holder's service under it to transfers involving one or both of the following cargo classifications:

(1) Dangerous liquid (DL).

(2) Liquefied gas (LG).

(b) No tankerman endorsement is necessary to transfer the liquid cargoes in bulk listed in Table 2 of Part 153 of this chapter when those cargoes are carried on barges not certified for ocean service.

(c) A tankerman having qualified in one cargo classification and wishing to qualify in another shall apply at an REC referenced in §10.105 of this chapter. If he or she meets all requirements for the other, the REC may issue a new MMD including the endorsement.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by USCG–2008–0906, 73 FR 56508, Sept. 29, 2008]

§ 13.111   Restricted endorsement.

(a) An applicant may apply at an REC listed in 46 CFR 10.105 for a tankerman endorsement restricted to specific cargoes, specific vessels or groups of vessels (such as uninspected towing vessels and Oil Spill Response Vessels), specific facilities, specific employers, or otherwise as the OCMI deems appropriate. The OCMI will evaluate each application and may modify the applicable requirements for the endorsement, allowing for special circumstances and for whichever restrictions the endorsement will state.

(b) To qualify for a restricted “Tankerman-PIC” endorsement, an applicant shall meet §§13.201, excluding paragraph (f); 13.203; and 13.205.

(1) Twenty-five percent of the service described in §13.203(a) must have occurred within the past five years.

(2) Two of the transfers described in §13.203(b) must have occurred within the past five years.

(c) To qualify for a restricted “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” endorsement, an applicant shall meet §§13.301, excluding paragraph (f); and 13.305.

(1) Twenty-five percent of the service described in §13.303(a) must have occurred within the past five years.

(2) Two of the transfers described in §13.303(b) must have occurred within the past five years.

(d) To qualify for a restricted “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” endorsement restricted to a tank-cleaning and gas-freeing facility, an applicant shall—

(1) Be at least 18 years old;

(2) Apply on a Coast Guard form;

(3) Present evidence of passing a physical examination in accordance with §13.125;

(4) Present evidence in the form of a letter on company letterhead from the operator of the facility stating that OSHA considers the applicant a “competent person” for the facility and that the applicant has the knowledge necessary to supervise tank-cleaning and gas-freeing; and

(5) Be capable of speaking and understanding, in English, all instructions needed to commence, conduct, and complete a transfer of cargo, and of reading the English found in the Declaration of Inspection, vessel response plans, and Cargo Information Cards.

(e) The restricted “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” endorsement restricted to a tank-cleaning and gas-freeing facility is valid only while the applicant is employed by the operator of the facility that provided the letter of service required by paragraph (d)(4) of this section, and this and any other appropriate restrictions will appear in the endorsement.

(f) Because the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), does not recognize restricted Tankerman-PIC endorsements, persons may act under these only aboard vessels conducting business inside the Boundary Line.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25128, May 8, 1997]

§§ 13.113-13.117   [Reserved]

§ 13.119   Expiration of endorsement.

An endorsement as tankerman is valid for the duration of the MMD.

§ 13.120   Renewal of endorsement.

An applicant wishing to renew a tankerman's endorsement shall meet the requirements of §12.02–27 of this chapter for renewing an MMD and prove either participation in at least two transfers within the last 5 years in accordance with §13.127(b) or completion of an approved course as described in §10.304.

[CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25130, May 8, 1997]

§ 13.121   Courses for training tankerman.

(a) This section prescribes the requirements, beyond those in §§10.203 and 10.303 of this chapter, applicable to schools offering courses required for a tankerman endorsement and courses that are a substitute for experience with transfers of liquid cargo in bulk required for the endorsement.

(b) Upon satisfactory completion of an approved course, each student shall receive a certificate, signed by the head of the school offering the course or by a designated representative, indicating the title of the course, the duration, and, if appropriate, credit allowed towards meeting the transfer requirements of this part.

(c) A course that uses simulated transfers to train students in loading and discharging tank vessels may replace up to 2 loadings and 2 discharges, 1 commencement and 1 completion of loading, and 1 commencement and 1 completion of discharge required for a Tankerman-PIC or Tankerman-PIC (Barge) endorsement. The request for approval of the course must specify those segments of a transfer that the course will simulate. The letter from the Coast Guard approving the course will state the number and kind of segments that the course will replace.

(d) The course in liquid cargo required for an endorsement as—

(1) “Tankerman-PIC DL” is Tankship: Dangerous Liquids;

(2) “Tankerman-PIC (Barge) DL” is Tank Barge: Dangerous Liquids;

(3) “Tankerman-PIC LG” is Tankship: Liquefied Gases;

(4) “Tankerman-PIC (Barge) LG” is Tank Barge: Liquefied Gases;

(5) “Tankerman-Assistant DL” is Familiarization with DL Tankship; and

(6) “Tankerman-Assistant LG” is Familiarization with LG Tankship.

(e) The course in firefighting required for an endorsement as—

(1) “Tankerman-PIC (Barge)” is Tank Barge: Firefighting; and

(2) “Tankerman-PIC”, “Tankerman-Assistant”, and “Tankerman-Engineer” is a firefighting course that meets the basic firefighting section of the IMO's Resolution A.437 (XI), “Training of Crews in Fire Fighting”.

(f) No school may issue a certificate unless the student has successfully completed an approved course with the appropriate curriculum outlined in Table 13.121(f) or §13.121(h).

(g) An organization with a course in DL or LG or a course in tank-barge firefighting taught before March 31, 1996, that substantially covered the material required by Table 13.121(f) for liquid cargoes, Table 13.121(g) for firefighting, or §13.121(h) for familiarization with tankships, may seek approval under §10.302 of this chapter from the Coast Guard for any course taught up to ten years before March 31, 1996.

(h) The Coast Guard will evaluate the curricula of courses for Familiarization with DL and LG Tankships to ensure adequate coverage of the required subjects. Training may employ classroom instruction, demonstrations, or simulated or actual operations.

(1) The curricula of courses for Familiarization with DL Tankships must consist of the following:

(i) General characteristics, compatibility, reaction, firefighting, and safety precautions for bulk liquid cargoes defined as DL in this part.

(ii) Terminology of tankships carrying oil and other chemicals.

(iii) General arrangement and construction of cargo tanks, vapor control, and venting.

(iv) Cargo-piping systems and valves.

(v) General operation of cargo pumps.

(vi) General discussion of the following operations connected with the loading and discharging of cargo:

(A) Pre-transfer inspection and conference and Declaration of Inspection.

(B) Lining up of the cargo and vapor-control systems and starting of liquid flow.

(C) Connecting and disconnecting of cargo hoses and loading arms.

(D) Loading.

(E) Ballasting and de-ballasting.

(F) Discharging.

(G) Tank-gauging (open and closed).

(vii) Rules of the Coast Guard governing operations in general and prevention of pollution in particular.

(viii) Prevention and control of pollution.

(ix) Emergency procedures.

(x) Safety precautions relative to:

(A) Entering cargo tanks and pump room.

(B) Dangers of contact with skin.

(C) Inhalation of vapors.

(D) Protective clothing and equipment.

(E) Hot work.

(F) Precautions respecting electrical hazards, including hazards of static electricity.

(xi) General principles and procedures of Crude-Oil Washing (COW) Systems and inert-gas systems.

(xii) Tank-cleaning procedures and precautions.

(xiii) Principles and procedures of vapor-control systems.

(xiv) Cargo-hazard-information systems.

(2) To ensure adequate coverage of the required subjects, training may employ classroom instruction, demonstrations, or simulated or actual operations. The curricula of courses for Familiarization with LG Tankships must consist of the following:

(i) General characteristics, compatibility, reaction, firefighting, and safety precautions for cargoes defined as LG in this part.

(ii) Terminology of tankships carrying LG.

(iii) Physical properties of LG.

(iv) Potential hazards and safety precautions of LG:

(A) Combustion characteristics.

(B) Hot work.

(C) Results of release of LG to the atmosphere.

(D) Health hazards (skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion).

(E) Protective clothing and equipment.

(F) Tank-entry procedures and precautions.

(G) Thermal stresses.

(H) Precautions respecting electrical hazards, including hazards of static electricity.

(v) Cargo-containment systems.

(vi) General arrangement and construction of cargo tanks.

(vii) Cargo-piping systems and valves.

(viii) Instrumentation:

(A) Cargo-level indicators.

(B) Gas-detecting systems.

(C) Systems for monitoring temperatures of hulls and cargoes.

(D) Automatic shut-down systems.

(ix) Heating systems for cofferdams and ballast tanks.

(x) General discussion of the following operations connected with the loading and discharging of cargo:

(A) Pre-transfer inspection and conference and Declaration of Inspection.

(B) Lining up of the cargo and vapor-control systems and starting of liquid flow.

(C) Connecting and disconnecting of cargo hoses and loading arms.

(D) Loading.

(E) Ballasting and de-ballasting.

(F) Discharging.

(xi) Disposal of boil-off.

(xii) Emergency procedures.

(xiii) Rules of the Coast Guard governing operations in general and prevention of pollution in particular.

(xiv) Principles and procedures of IGSs.

(xv) Tank-cleaning procedures and precautions.

(xvi) Principles and procedures of vapor-control systems.

(xvii) Cargo-hazard-information systems.

(i) A company that offers approved DL training for its employees shall ensure discussion of the following topics (further discussed in STCW Regulation V, Section A-V/1, paragraphs 9 through 21):

(1) Treaties and rules.

(2) Design and equipment.

(3) Cargo characteristics.

(4) Ship operations.

(5) Repair and maintenance.

(6) Emergency procedures.

(j) A company that offers approved LG training for its employees shall ensure discussion of the following topics (further discussed in STCW Regulation V, Section A-V/1, paragraphs 22 through 34):

(1) Treaties and rules.

(2) Chemistry and physics.

(3) Health hazards.

(4) Cargo containment.

(5) Pollution.

(6) Cargo-handling systems.

(7) Ship operations.

(8) Safety practices and equipment.

(9) Emergency procedures.

(10) General principles of cargo operations.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25130, 25131, 25133, May 8, 1997]

§ 13.123   Recency of service or experience for original tankerman endorsement.

An applicant for an original tankerman endorsement in subpart B, C, D, or E of this part shall have obtained at least 25% of the qualifying service and, if the endorsement requires transfers, at least two of the qualifying transfers, within five years of the date of application.

§ 13.125   Physical requirements.

Each applicant for an original tankerman endorsement shall meet the physical requirements of §10.205(d) of this chapter, excluding paragraph (d)(2) of that section.

§ 13.127   Service: General.

(a) A service letter must be signed by the owner, operator, master, or chief engineer of the vessel and must specify—

(1) The classification of cargo (DL, LG, or, for a restricted endorsement, a specific product) handled while the applicant accumulated the service;

(2) The dates, the number and kinds of transfers the applicant has participated in, and the number of transfers that involved commencement or completion; and

(3) That the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the signer that he or she is fully capable of supervising transfers of liquid cargo, including

(i) Pre-transfer inspection;

(ii) Pre-transfer conference and execution of the Declaration of Inspection;

(iii) Connection of cargo hoses or loading-arms;

(iv) Line-up of the cargo system for loading and discharge;

(v) Start of liquid flow during loading;

(vi) Start of cargo pump and increase of pressure to normal discharge pressure;

(vii) Calculation of loading-rates;

(viii) Monitoring;

(ix) Topping-off of cargo tanks during loading;

(x) Stripping of cargo tanks;

(xi) Ballasting and deballasting, if appropriate;

(xii) Disconnection of the cargo hoses or loading-arms; and

(xiii) Securing of cargo systems.

(b) In determining the numbers and kinds of transfers that the applicant has participated in under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the following rules apply:

(1) A transfer must involve the loading or discharge from at least one of the vessel's cargo tanks to or from a shore facility or another vessel. A shift of cargo from one tank to another tank is not a transfer for this purpose.

(2) Regardless of how long the transfer lasts beyond four hours, it counts as only one transfer.

(3) A transfer must include both a commencement and a completion.

(4) Regardless of how many tanks or products are being loaded or discharged at the same time, a person may receive credit for only one transfer, one loading, and one discharge a watch.

(5) Credit for a transfer during a watch of less than four hours accrues only if the watch includes either the connection and the commencement of transfer or the completion of transfer and the disconnection.

(6) Credit for a commencement of loading accrues only if the applicant participates in the pre-transfer inspection, the pre-transfer conference including execution of the Declaration of Inspection, the connection of cargo hoses or loading-arms, the line-up of the cargo system for the loading, the start of liquid flow, and the calculation of loading-rates, where applicable.

(7) Credit for a commencement of discharge accrues only if the applicant participates in the pre-transfer inspection, the pre-transfer conference including execution of the Declaration of Inspection, the connection of cargo hoses or loading-arms, the line-up of the cargo system for the discharge, the start of the cargo pump or pumps and increase of pressure to normal pressure for discharge, and the monitoring of discharge rates.

(8) Credit for a completion of transfer, whether loading or discharge, accrues only if the applicant participates in the topping-off at the loading port, or in the stripping of cargo tanks and the commencement of ballasting, if required by the vessel's transfer procedures, at the discharge port.

(9) Personnel desiring credit for transfers during off-duty hours may satisfy requirements of competence through incremental training periods that include segments of transfers. The cumulative number of transfers must equal the minimum specified in §13.203(b) or 13.303(b).

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25133, May 8, 1997]

§ 13.129   Quick-reference table for tankerman.

Table 13.129 provides a guide to the requirements for various tankerman endorsements. Provisions in the reference sections are controlling.

[CGD 79–116, 60 FR 17142, Apr. 4, 1995, as amended by CGD 79–116, 62 FR 25133, May 8, 1997]

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