33 C.F.R. Subpart D—Vessel Navigation
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
This subpart supplements the international navigation rules in subchapter D of this chapter, and prescribes requirements that: (a) Apply to the navigation of all vessels at or near a deepwater port; and (b) Apply to all vessels while in a safety zone, area to be avoided, or no anchoring area. The master of any tanker calling at an unmanned deepwater port is responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel to and from the port and for the required notifications in §150.325. Once the tanker is connected to the unmanned deepwater port, the master must maintain radar surveillance in compliance with the requirements of §150.310. A manned deepwater port's person in charge of vessel operations must maintain radar surveillance of the safety zone or area to be avoided when: (a) A tanker is proceeding to the safety zone after submitting the report required in §150.325; (b) A tanker or support vessel is underway in the safety zone or area to be avoided; (c) A vessel other than a tanker or support vessel is about to enter or is underway in the safety zone or area to be avoided; or (d) As described in the port security plan. A manned deepwater port's person in charge of vessel operations must advise the master of each tanker underway in the safety zone or area to be avoided of the following: (a) At intervals not exceeding 10 minutes, the vessel's position by range and bearing from the pumping platform complex; and (b) The position and the estimated course and speed, if moving, of all other vessels that may interfere with the movement of the tanker within the safety zone or area to be avoided. (a) The owner, master, agent, or person in charge of a tanker bound for a manned deepwater port must comply with the notice of arrival (NOA) requirements in subpart C of part 160 of this chapter. The NOA will be submitted to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) that was established in October 2001 to track arrival information from vessels entering U.S. waters. (b) The owner, master, agent, or person in charge of a tanker bound for a manned deepwater port must report the pertinent information required in §150.15(i)(4)(vi) for the vessel including: (1) The name, gross tonnage, and draft of the tanker; (2) The type and amount of cargo in the tanker; (3) The location of the tanker at the time of the report; (4) Any conditions on the tanker that may impair its navigation, such as fire or malfunctioning propulsion, steering, navigational, or radiotelephone equipment. The testing requirements in §164.25 of this chapter are applicable to vessels arriving at a deepwater port; (5) Any leaks, structural damage, or machinery malfunctions that may impair cargo transfer operations or cause a product discharge; and (6) The operational condition of the equipment listed under §164.35 of this chapter on the tanker. (c) If the estimated time of arrival changes by more than 6 hours from the last reported time, the NVMC and the port's person in charge of vessel operations must be notified of the correction as soon as the change is known. (d) If the information reported in paragraphs (b)(4) or (b)(5) of this section changes at any time before the tanker enters the safety zone or area to be avoided at the deepwater port, or while the tanker is in the safety zone or area to be avoided, the master of the tanker must report the changes to the NVMC and port's person in charge of vessel operations as soon as possible. When a tanker bound for a manned deepwater port is 20 miles from entering the port's safety zone or area to be avoided, the master of the tanker must notify the port's person in charge of vessel operations of the tanker's name and location. (a) A tanker must enter or depart the port's safety zone or area to be avoided in accordance with the navigation procedures in the port's approved operations manual as described in §150.15(i). (b) A tanker must not anchor in the safety zone or area to be avoided, except in a designated anchorage area. (c) A tanker may not enter a safety zone or area to be avoided in which another tanker is present, unless it has been cleared by the person in charge of the port and no other tankers are underway. (d) A tanker must not operate, anchor, or moor in any area of the safety zone or area to be avoided in which the net under-keel clearance would be less than 5 feet. All movements of support vessels within a manned deepwater port's safety zone or area to be avoided must be cleared in advance by the port's person in charge of vessel operations. A support vessel must not anchor in the safety zone or area to be avoided, except: (a) In an anchorage area; or (b) For vessel maintenance, which, in the case of a manned deepwater port, must be cleared by the port's person in charge of vessel operations. (a) Clearance by a manned deepwater port's person in charge of vessel operations is required before a vessel, other than a tanker or support vessel, enters the safety zone. (b) The port's person in charge of vessel operations may clear a vessel under paragraph (a) of this section only if its entry into the safety zone would not: (1) Interfere with the purpose of the deepwater port; (2) Endanger the safety of life or property or the environment; or (3) Be prohibited by regulation. (c) At an unmanned deepwater port, such as a submerged turret landing (STL) system, paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section would apply once a tanker connects to the STL buoy. (a) Table 150.380(a) of this section lists the areas within a safety zone and area to be avoided where a vessel may operate and the clearance needed for that location. (b) If the activity is not listed in table 150.380(a) of this section, or is not otherwise provided for in this subpart, the COTP's permission is required first. In an emergency, for the protection of life or property, a vessel may deviate from a vessel movement requirement in this subpart without clearance from a manned deepwater port's person in charge of vessel operations if the master advises the port PIC of the reasons for the deviation at the earliest possible moment.
Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters
PART 150—DEEPWATER PORTS: OPERATIONS
Subpart D—Vessel Navigation
§ 150.300 What does this subpart do?
§ 150.305 How does this subpart apply to unmanned deepwater ports?
§ 150.310 When is radar surveillance required?
§ 150.320 What advisories are given to tankers?
§ 150.325 What is the first notice required before a tanker enters the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.330 What is the second notice required before a tanker enters the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.340 What are the rules of navigation for tankers in the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.345 How are support vessels cleared to move within the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.350 What are the rules of navigation for support vessels in the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.355 How are other vessels cleared to move within the safety zone?
§ 150.380 Under what circumstances may vessels operate within the safety zone or area to be avoided?
§ 150.385 What is required in an emergency?
