
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC3705]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part B--Inspection and Regulation of Vessels
 
          CHAPTER 37--CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES
 
Sec. 3705. Crude oil tanker minimum standards

    (a) A new crude oil tanker of at least 20,000 deadweight tons shall 
be equipped with--
        (1) protectively located segregated ballast tanks;
        (2) a crude oil washing system; and
        (3) a cargo tank protection system consisting of a fixed deck 
    froth system and a fixed inert gas system.

    (b)(1) An existing crude oil tanker of at least 40,000 deadweight 
tons shall be equipped with--
        (A) segregated ballast tanks; or
        (B) a crude oil washing system.

    (2) Compliance with paragraph (1) of this subsection may be delayed 
until June 1, 1985, for any tanker of less than 70,000 deadweight tons 
that has dedicated clean ballast tanks.
    (c) An existing crude oil tanker of at least 20,000 deadweight tons 
but less than 40,000 deadweight tons, and at least 15 years of age, 
shall be equipped with segregated ballast tanks or a crude oil washing 
system before January 2, 1986, or the date on which the tanker reaches 
15 years of age, whichever is later.
    (d) An existing crude oil tanker of at least 20,000 deadweight tons 
shall be equipped with an inert gas system. However, for a crude oil 
tanker of less than 40,000 deadweight tons not fitted with high capacity 
tank washing machines, the Secretary may grant an exemption if the 
vessel's owner can show clearly that compliance would be unreasonable 
and impracticable due to the vessel's design characteristics.
    (e) A crude oil tanker engaged in transferring oil from an offshore 
oil exploitation or production facility on the Outer Continental Shelf 
of the United States shall be equipped with segregated ballast tanks, or 
may operate with dedicated clean ballast tanks or special ballast 
arrangements. However, the tanker shall comply with other applicable 
minimum standards of this section.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 523.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3705(a)...........................  46:391a(7)(A)
3705(b)...........................  46:391a(7)(D)
3705(c)...........................  46:391a(7)(E)
3705(d)...........................  46:391a(7)(F)
3705(e)...........................  46:391a(7)(M)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 3705 requires compliance with certain minimum standards by a 
crude oil tanker, which is self-propelled. In general, the minimum 
required standards are consistent with those international standards 
that have been adopted as Protocols to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea 
Convention and the 1973 Marine Pollution Convention.
    Section 3705(a) requires new crude oil tankers of 20,000 deadweight 
tons or above to have protectively located segregated ballast tanks, a 
crude oil washing system, and a specified cargo tank protection system.
    Section 3705(b) requires existing crude oil tankers of 40,000 
deadweight tons or above to have segregated ballast tanks or a crude oil 
washing system. Compliance may be delayed until June 1, 1985 for smaller 
tankers that have dedicated clean ballast tanks.
    Section 3705(c) requires existing crude oil tankers of 20,000 
deadweight tons or above, but less than 40,000 deadweight tons, that are 
15 years or older, to have segregated ballast tanks or a crude oil 
washing system by January 1, 1985 or if less than 15 years old, by the 
date on which it reaches 15 years of age.
    Section 3705(d) requires existing crude oil tankers of 20,000 
deadweight tons or above, to install an inert gas system. An exemption 
for crude oil tankers of less than 40,000 deadweight tons not fitted 
with high-capacity tank washing machines may be granted by the 
Secretary, only if it is demonstrated that compliance would be 
unreasonable and impracticable due to the vessel's design 
characteristics.
    Section 3705(e) requires existing crude oil tankers of 20,000 
deadweight tons or above, engaged in the transfer of oil from Outer 
Continental Shelf oil exploitation or production facilities, to have 
segregated ballast tanks or be operated with dedicated clean ballast 
tanks or special ballast arrangements.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 3709 of this title; section 
1185 of Appendix to this title.
