Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§3706 Product carrier minimum standards

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES › § 3706

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Product carriers must have certain safety systems based on their size and age. New carriers of 30,000 deadweight tons or more must have segregated ballast tanks. New carriers of 20,000 deadweight tons or more must have a cargo-tank protection system (fixed deck froth plus fixed inert gas) or, if the cargo is incompatible, an alternate approved by the Secretary. Existing carriers 40,000 dwt or more, and those 20,000–39,999 dwt that are 15 years or older, must use segregated or dedicated clean ballast tanks. Existing carriers 40,000 dwt or more, or 20,000–39,999 dwt fitted with high-capacity tank washing machines, must have an inert gas system.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §3706

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(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.
(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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource 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.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232 struck out “before January 2, 1986, or the date on which it reaches 15 years of age, whichever is later” before period at end.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 3706

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73