46 C.F.R. Subpart 58.50—Independent Fuel Tanks
Title 46 - Shipping
(a) The regulations in this subpart contain requirements for independent fuel tanks. (b) Passenger vessels exceeding 100 gross tons constructed prior to July 1, 1935, may carry gasoline as fuel not exceeding 40 gallons to supply the emergency electrical system. Passenger vessels exceeding 100 gross tons constructed on or after July 1, 1935, and all emergency systems converted on or after July 1, 1935, shall use fuel which has a flashpoint exceeding 110 °F. (PMCC) for internal combustion engine units. Such vessels shall carry a sufficient quantity of fuel to supply the emergency electrical system. Refer to §112.05–5 of Subchapter J (Electrical Engineering), of this chapter. (c) An outage of 2 percent shall be provided on all fuel tanks containing petroleum products. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGD 73–254, 40 FR 40169, Sept. 2, 1975] (a) Construction—(1) Shape. Tanks may be of either cylindrical or rectangular form, except that tanks for emergency electrical systems shall be of cylindrical form. (2) Materials and construction. The material used and the minimum thickness allowed shall be as indicated in Table 58.50–5(a) except that consideration will be given to other materials which provide equivalent safety as indicated in §58.50–15. (3) Prohibited types. Tanks with flanged-up top edges that may trap and hold moisture shall not be used. (4) Openings. Openings for fill, vent and fuel pipes, and openings for fuel level gages where used, shall be on the topmost surface of tanks. Tanks shall have no openings in bottoms, sides, or ends, except that an opening fitted with threaded plug or cap may be used for tank cleaning purposes. (5) Joints. All metallic tank joints shall be welded or brazed. (6) Fittings. Nozzles, flanges, or other fittings for pipe connections shall be welded or brazed to the tank. The tank openings in way of pipe connections shall be properly reinforced where necessary. Where fuel level gages are used, the flange to which gage fittings are attached shall be welded or brazed to the tank. No tubular gage glasses or trycocks shall be fitted to the tanks. (7) Baffle plates. All tanks exceeding 30 inches in any horizontal dimension shall be fitted with vertical baffle plates where necessary for strength or for control of excessive surge. In general, baffle plates installed at intervals not exceeding 30 inches will be considered as meeting this requirement. (8) Baffle plate details. Baffle plates, where required, shall be of the same material and not less than the minimum thickness required in the tank walls and shall be connected to the tank walls by welding or brazing. Limber holes at the bottom and air holes at the top of all baffles shall be provided. (b) Installation. (1) Gasoline fuel tanks used for propulsion shall be located in water-tight compartments separate from, but adjacent to the engineroom or machinery space. Fuel tanks for auxiliaries shall be located on or above the weather deck outside of the engine housing or compartment and as close to the engine as practicable. All tanks shall be so installed as to provide a free circulation of air around the tanks. (2) Cylindrical tanks with longitudinal seams shall be arranged horizontally where practicable so that such seams are located as near the top as possible. (3) Fuel tanks shall be so installed as to permit examination, testing, or removal for cleaning. (4) Fuel tanks shall be adequately supported and braced to prevent movement. Portable fuel tanks are not permitted. (5) All fuel tanks shall be electrically bonded to the common ground. (c) Testing. (1) Prior to installation, tanks vented to atmosphere shall be tested to, and must withstand, a pressure of 5 pounds per square inch or 1 (2) After installation of the fuel tank on a vessel the complete installation shall be tested in the presence of a marine inspector to a head not less than that to which the tank may be subjected in service. Fuel may be used as a testing medium. (3) All tanks not vented to atmosphere shall be constructed and tested in accordance with part 54 of this subchapter. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 72–59R, 37 FR 6190, Mar. 25, 1972; USCG–1999–5151, 64 FR 67180, Dec. 1, 1999] (a) Construction. (1) Tanks may be of either cylindrical or rectangular form. (2) The materials used and the minimum thickness allowed in the construction of independent fuel tanks shall be as indicated in Table 58.50–10(a), except that consideration will be given to other materials which provide equivalent safety as indicated in §58.50–15. (3) Tanks with flanged-up top edges, that may trap and hold moisture, shall not be used. (4) Openings for fill and vent pipes must be on the topmost surface of a tank. There must be no openings in the bottom, sides, or ends of a tank except as follows: (i) The opening for the fuel supply piping is not restricted to the top of the tank. (ii) An opening fitted with threaded plug or cap may be used on the bottom of the tank for tank cleaning purposes. (iii) Liquid level gages must penetrate at a point that is more than 2 inches from the bottom of the tank. (5) All tank joints shall be welded. (6) Nozzles, flanges, or other fittings for pipe connections shall be welded or brazed to the tank. The tank opening in way of pipe connections shall be properly reinforced where necessary. Where liquid level indicating devices are attached to the tank, they shall be of heat resistant materials adequately protected from mechanical damage and provided at the tank connections with devices which will automatically close in the event of rupture of the gage or gage lines. (7) All tanks exceeding 30 inches in any horizontal dimension shall be fitted with vertical baffle plates where necessary for strength or for control of excessive surge. In general, baffle plates installed at intervals not exceeding 30 inches will be considered as meeting this requirement. (8) Baffle plates, where required, shall be of the same material and not less than the minimum thickness required in the tank walls and shall be connected to the tank walls by welding or brazing. Limber holes at the bottom and air holes at the top of all baffle plates shall be provided. (9) Iron or steel tanks shall not be galvanized on the interior. Galvanizing paint or other suitable coating shall be used to protect the outside of iron and steel tanks. (b) Installation. (1) Tanks containing fuel for emergency lighting units shall be located on an open deck or in an adequately ventilated metal compartment. No tank shall be located in a compartment where the temperature may exceed 150 °F. (2) When cylindrical tanks are installed, longitudinal seams shall be located as near the top of the tank as possible. Fuel tanks shall be located in, or as close as practicable, to the machinery space which is served. (3) Fuel tanks shall be so installed as to permit examination, testing, or removal for cleaning. (4) Fuel tanks shall be adequately supported and braced to prevent movement. Portable tanks are not permitted. (5) All fuel tanks shall be electrically bonded to the common ground. (c) Tests. (1) Prior to installation, tanks vented to the atmosphere shall be tested to and must withstand a pressure of 5 pounds per square inch or 1 (2) After installation of the fuel tank on a vessel the complete installation shall be tested in the presence of a marine inspector to a head not less than that to which the tank may be subjected in service. Fuel may be used as a testing medium. (3) All tanks not vented to atmosphere shall be constructed and tested in accordance with part 54 of this subchapter. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69–127, 35 FR 9980, June 17, 1970; CGFR 72–59R, 37 FR 6190, Mar. 25, 1972; USCG–1999–5151, 64 FR 67180, Dec. 1, 1999] (a) Materials other than those specifically listed in Table 58.50–5(a) and in Table 58.50–10(a) may be used for fuel tank construction only if the tank as constructed meets the testing requirements of Marine Department, Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (formerly Yacht Safety Bureau) STD E–3, paragraph E3–3. Testing may be accomplished by any acceptable laboratory, such as the Marine Department, Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (formerly Yacht Safety Bureau), or may be done by the fabricator if witnessed by a marine inspector. (b) [Reserved] [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69–127, 35 FR 9980, June 17, 1970]
Title 46: Shipping
PART 58—MAIN AND AUXILIARY MACHINERY AND RELATED SYSTEMS
Subpart 58.50—Independent Fuel Tanks
§ 58.50-1 General requirements.
§ 58.50-5 Gasoline fuel tanks.
Table 58.50-5(a)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thickness in inches and gage numbers \1\ vs. tank A.S.T.M. capacities for_ specification ----------------------------------------------------------- Material (latest edition) More than 80- and [see also § 1-through 80- not more than 150- Over 150-gallon 58.03-1] gallon tanks gallon tanks tanks \2\----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aluminum \5\.................... B 209, Alloy 5086 0.250 (USSG 3).... 0.250 (USSG 3).... 0.250 (USSG 3). \6\.Nickel-copper................... B127, Hot rolled 0.037 (USSG 20) 0.050 (USSG 18)... 0.107 (USSG 12). sheet or plate. \3\.Copper-nickel................... B122, Alloy No. 5. 0.045 (AWG 17).... 0.057 (AWG 15).... 0.128 (AWG 8).Copper.......................... B152, Type ETP.... 0.057(AWG 15)..... 0.080 (AWG 12).... 0.182 (AWG 5).Copper-silicon.................. B 96, alloys 0.050 (AWG 16).... 0.064 (AWG 14).... 0.144 (AWG 7). C65100 and C65500.Steel or iron \4\............... .................. 0.0747 (MfgStd 14) 0.1046 (MfgStd 12) 0.179 (MfgStd 7).----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Gages used are U.S. standard ``USSG'' for nickel-copper; ``AWG'' for copper, copper-nickel and copper- silicon ``MFR's STD'' for steel.\2\ Tanks over 400 gallons shall be designed with a factor of safety of four on the ultimate strength of the material used with a design head of not less than 4 feet of liquid above the top of the tank.\3\ Nickel-copper not less than 0.031 inch (USSG 22) may be used for tanks up to 30-gallon capacity.\4\ Fuel tanks constructed of iron or steel, which is less than 3/16-inch thick shall be galvanized inside and outside by the hot dip process.\5\ Anodic to most common metals. Avoid dissimilar metal contact with tank body.\6\ And other alloys acceptable to the Commandant.
§ 58.50-10 Diesel fuel tanks.
Table 58.50-10(a)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thickness in inches and gage numbers \1\ vs. tank A.S.T.M. capacities for_ specification ----------------------------------------------------------- Material (latest edition) More than 80- and [see also § 1- through 80- not more than 150- Over 150-gallon 58.03-1] gallon tanks gallon tanks tanks \2\----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aluminum \5\.................... B209, Alloy 5086 0.250 (USSG 3).... 0.250 (USSG 3).... 0.250 (USSG 3). \6\.Nickel-copper................... B127, Hot rolled 0.037 (USSG 20) 0.050 (USSG 18)... 0.107 (USSG 12). sheet or plate. \3\.Steel or iron \4\............... .................. 0.0747 (MfgStd 14) 0.1046 (MfgStd 12) 0.179 (MfgStd 7).----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Gages used are U.S. standard ``USSG'' for nickel-copper and ``MfgStd'' for steel or iron.\2\ Tanks over 400 gallons shall be designed with a factor of safety of four on the ultimate strength of the material used with design head of not less than 4 feet of liquid above the top of the tank.\3\ Nickel-copper not less than 0.031 inch (USSG 22) may be used for tanks up to 30-gallon capacity.\4\ For diesel tanks the steel or iron shall not be galvanized on the interior.\5\ Anodic to most common metals. Avoid dissimilar metal contact with tank body.\6\ And other alloys acceptable to the Commandant.
§ 58.50-15 Alternate material for construction of independent fuel tanks.
