
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: 46USC3706]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part B--Inspection and Regulation of Vessels
 
          CHAPTER 37--CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES
 
Sec. 3706. Product carrier minimum standards

    (a) A new product carrier of at least 30,000 deadweight tons shall 
be equipped with protectively located segregated ballast tanks.
    (b) A new product carrier of at least 20,000 deadweight tons shall 
be equipped with a cargo tank protection system consisting of a fixed 
deck froth system and a fixed inert gas system or, if the product 
carrier carries dedicated products incompatible with the cargo tank 
protection system, an alternate protection system authorized by the 
Secretary.
    (c) An existing product carrier of at least 40,000 deadweight tons 
shall be equipped with segregated ballast tanks or may operate with 
dedicated clean ballast tanks.
    (d) An existing product carrier 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 may operate with 
dedicated clean ballast tanks before January 2, 1986, or the date on 
which it reaches 15 years of age, whichever is later.
    (e) An existing product carrier of at least 40,000 deadweight tons, 
or an existing product carrier of at least 20,000 deadweight tons but 
less than 40,000 deadweight tons that is fitted with high-capacity tank 
washing machines, shall be equipped with an inert gas system.

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

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3706(a)...........................  46:391a(7)(B)
3706(b)...........................  46:391a(7)(C)
3706(c)...........................  46:391a(7)(G)
3706(d)...........................  46:391a(7)(H)
3706(e)...........................  46:391a(7)(I)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 3706 requires compliance with certain minimum standards by a 
product carrier, which is a self-propelled tank vessel.
    Section 3706(a) requires new product carriers of 30,000 deadweight 
tons or above, to have protectively located segregated ballast tanks.
    Section 3706(b) requires new product carriers of 20,000 deadweight 
tons or above, to have a cargo tank protection system consisting of a 
fixed deck froth system or a fixed inert gas system. If the products 
carried are incompatible with the cargo tank protection system, then an 
alternative protection system may be authorized.
    Section 3706(c) requires existing product carriers of 40,000 
deadweight tons or above, to have segregated ballast tanks or to operate 
with dedicated clean ballast tanks.
    Section 3706(d) requires existing product carriers 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 by January 1, 1985, 
or on the date on which it reaches 15 years of age or, in the 
alternative, that the vessel operate with dedicated clean ballast tanks.
    Section 3706(e) requires existing product carriers of 40,000 
deadweight tons or above, or to existing product carriers, fitted with 
high-capacity tank washing machines, of 20,000 deadweight tons but less 
than 40,000 deadweight tons, to install an inert gas system.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

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