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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§3719 Reduction of Oil Spills From Single Hull Non-self-propelled Tank Vessels

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part B— Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter 37— CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES › § 3719

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must make rules, after consulting the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee and thinking about vessel characteristics, for single‑hull, non‑self‑propelled tank vessels operating in the open ocean or coastal waters. The rules must require at least one of: a crew and working anchor that can stop the vessel without help in expected sea conditions; an emergency system to recover it if the tow line breaks; or another measure the Secretary finds equally protective against grounding.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §3719

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary shall, in consultation with the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee and taking into consideration the characteristics, methods of operation, and the size and nature of service of single hull non-self-propelled tank vessels and towing vessels, prescribe regulations requiring a single hull non-self-propelled tank vessel that operates in the open ocean or coastal waters, or the vessel towing it, to have at least one of the following:
(1)A crew member and an operable anchor on board the tank vessel that together are capable of arresting the tank vessel without additional assistance under reasonably foreseeable sea conditions.
(2)An emergency system on the tank vessel or towing vessel that without additional assistance under reasonably foreseeable sea conditions will allow the tank vessel to be retrieved by the towing vessel if the tow line ruptures.
(3)Any other measure or combination of measures that the Secretary determines will provide protection against grounding of the tank vessel comparable to that provided by the measures described in paragraph (1) or (2).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–282 inserted “National” before “Towing Safety” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Regulations

Pub. L. 104–324, title IX, § 901(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3946, provided that: “The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue

Regulations

required under section 3719 of title 46, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than October 1, 1997.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 3719

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60