DEEPWATER PORTS: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND EQUIPMENT

• Citation: 33 CFR Part 149
• Sections: 115

§ 149.1 What does this part do?

This part provides requirements for the design and construction of deepwater ports. It also provides the requirements for equipment for deepwater ports.

§ 149.3 Incorporation by reference.

(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this subchapter with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that specified in this section, the Coast Guard must publish a notice of change in the Federal Register and the material must be available to the public. All approved material is available for inspection at the U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG-4), 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509, and is available from the sources listed below. It is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html .

(b) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169, 617-770-3000, http://www.nfpa.org .

(1) NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2010 Edition, effective December 5, 2009, IBR approved for § 149.408(a) through (d).

(2) [Reserved]

§ 149.5 What definitions apply to this part?

Definitions applicable to this part appear in 33 CFR 148.5. In addition, the following terms are used in this part and have the indicated meanings:

Accommodation module means a module with one or more accommodation spaces that is individually contracted and may be used for one or more facilities.

Major conversion means a conversion, as determined by the Commandant (CG-5P), that substantially changes the dimensions of a facility, substantially changes the water depth capability of a fixed facility, substantially changes the carrying capacity of a floating facility, substantially changes the processing equipment, changes the type of a facility, substantially prolongs the life of a facility, or otherwise so changes the facility that it is essentially a new facility.

Service space means a space used for a galley, a pantry containing cooking appliances, a storeroom, or a workshop other than those in industrial areas, and trunks to those spaces.

Sleeping space means a space provided with bunks for sleeping.

§ 149.10 Where can the operator obtain a list of Coast Guard-approved equipment?

Where equipment in this subchapter must be of an approved type, the equipment must be specifically approved by the Commandant (CG-5P) and the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center. A list of approved equipment, including all of the approval series, is available at: http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment/Default.aspx.

§ 149.15 What is the process for submitting alterations and modifications affecting the design and construction of a deepwater port?

(a) Alterations and modifications affecting the design and construction of a deepwater port must be submitted to the Commandant (CG-5P) for review and approval if:

(1) A license has not yet been issued; or,

(2) A license has been issued but the port has not commenced operations; or,

(3) The alteration and modification are deemed a major conversion; or,

(4) The alteration or modification substantially changes the manner in which the port operates or is not in accordance with a condition of the license.

(b) All other alterations and modifications to the deepwater port must be submitted to the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection (OCMI) for review and approval.

(c) Approval for alterations and modifications proposed after a license has been issued will be contingent upon whether the proposed changes will affect the way the port operates, or any conditions imposed in the license.

(d) The licensee is not authorized to proceed with alterations prior to approval from the Commandant (CG-5P) for the conditions outlined in paragraph (a) and approval by the cognizant OCMI as required in paragraph (b) of this section.

(e) The Commandant (CG-5P), during the review and approval process of a proposed alteration or modification, may consult with the Marine Safety Center and cooperating Federal agencies possessing relevant technical expertise.

§ 149.100 What does this subpart do?

This subpart provides requirements for pollution equipment on deepwater ports.

§ 149.103 What are the requirements for discharge containment and removal material and equipment?

(a) Each deepwater port must have a facility response plan that meets the requirements outlined in part 154, subpart F, of this chapter, and be approved by the cognizant Sector Commander, or MSU Commander with COTP and OCMI authority.

(b) The facility response plan must identify adequate spill containment and removal equipment for deepwater port-specific spill scenarios.

(c) Response equipment and material must be pre-positioned for ready access and use on board the deepwater port.

§ 149.105 What are the requirements for the overflow and relief valves?

(a) Each oil and natural gas transfer system (OTS/NGTS) must include a relief valve that, when activated, prevents pressure on any component of the OTS/NGTS from exceeding its maximum rated pressure.

(b) The transfer system overflow or relief valve must not allow a discharge into the sea.

§ 149.110 What are the requirements for pipeline end manifold shutoff valves?

Each pipeline end manifold must have a shutoff valve capable of operating both manually and from the pumping platform complex.

§ 149.115 What are the requirements for blank flange and shutoff valves?

Each floating hose string must have a blank flange and a shutoff valve at the vessel's manifold end.

§ 149.120 What are the requirements for manually operated shutoff valves?

Each oil and natural gas transfer line passing through a single point mooring buoy system must have a manual shutoff valve.

§ 149.125 What are the requirements for the malfunction detection system?

(a) Each oil and natural gas system, between a pumping platform complex and the shore, must have a system that can detect and locate leaks and other malfunctions, particularly in high-risk areas.

(b) The marine transfer area on an oil deepwater port must be equipped with a monitoring system in accordance with § 154.525 of this chapter.

(c) A natural gas deepwater port must be equipped with gas detection equipment adequate for the type of transfer system, including storage and regasification, used. The Commandant (CG-5P) will evaluate proposed leak-detection systems for natural gas on an individual basis.

§ 149.130 What are the requirements for the cargo transfer system alarm?

(a) Each cargo transfer system must have an alarm to signal a malfunction or failure in the system.

(b) The alarm must sound automatically in the control room and:

(1) Be capable of being activated at the pumping platform complex;

(2) Have a signal audible in all areas of the pumping platform complex, except in areas under paragraph (b)(3) of this section;

(3) Have a high intensity flashing light in areas of high ambient noise levels where hearing protection is required under § 150.615 of this chapter; and

(4) Be distinguishable from the general alarm.

(c) Tankers calling on unmanned deepwater ports must be equipped with a transfer system alarm described in this section.

§ 149.135 What should be marked on the cargo transfer system alarm switch?

Each switch for activating an alarm, and each audio or visual device for signaling an alarm, must be identified by the words “Oil Transfer Alarm” or “Natural Gas Transfer Alarm” in red letters at least 1 inch high on a yellow background.

§ 149.140 What communications equipment must be on a deepwater port?

(a) Each deepwater port must have the following communications equipment:

(1) A system for continuous two-way voice communication among the deepwater port, the tankers, the support vessels, and other vessels operating at the deepwater port. The system must be usable and effective in all phases of a transfer and in all conditions of weather at the deepwater port;

(2) A means to indicate the need to use the communication system required by this section, even if the means is the communication system itself; and

(3) Equipment that, for each portable means of communication used to meet the requirements of this section, is:

(i) Certified under 46 CFR 111.105-11 to be operated in Group D, Class 1, Division 1 Atmosphere; and,

(ii) Permanently marked with the certification required in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section. As an alternative to this marking requirement, a document certifying that the portable radio devices in use are in compliance with this section may be kept at the deepwater port.

(b) The communication system of the tank ship mooring at an unmanned deepwater port will be deemed the primary means of communicating with support vessels, shore side, etc.

§ 149.145 What are the requirements for curbs, gutters, drains, and reservoirs?

Each pumping platform complex must have enough curbs, gutters, drains, and reservoirs to collect, in the reservoirs, all oil and contaminants not authorized for discharge into the ocean according to the deepwater port's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit.

§ 149.300 What does this subpart do?

This subpart provides requirements for lifesaving equipment on deepwater ports.

§ 149.301 What are the requirements for lifesaving equipment?

(a) Manned Deepwater Port. Each deepwater port on which at least one person occupies an accommodation space for more than 30 consecutive days in any successive 12-month period must comply with the requirements for lifesaving equipment in this subpart.

(b) Unmanned Deepwater Port. Each deepwater port, not under paragraph (a) of this section, must comply with the requirements for lifesaving equipment for unmanned deepwater ports in this subpart.

§ 149.302 What are the requirements when lifesaving equipment is repaired or replaced?

When lifesaving equipment is replaced, or when the deepwater port undergoes a repair, alteration, or modification that involves replacing or adding to the lifesaving equipment, the new lifesaving equipment must meet the requirements of this subpart.

§ 149.303 What survival craft and rescue boats may be used on a manned deepwater port?

(a) Each survival craft on a manned deepwater port must be one of the following:

(1) A lifeboat meeting the requirements of § 149.306 of this part; or

(2) A liferaft meeting the requirements of § 149.308 of this part.

(b) Each rescue boat on a manned deepwater port must be a rescue boat meeting the requirements of § 149.314 of this part.

§ 149.304 What type and how many survival craft and rescue boats must a manned deepwater port have?

(a) Except as specified under § 149.305 of this part, each manned deepwater port must have at least the type and number of survival craft and the number of rescue boats indicated for the deepwater port in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(5) of this section.

(1) For a deepwater port with 30 or fewer persons on board:

(i) One or more lifeboats with a total capacity of 100 percent of the personnel on board;

(ii) One or more liferafts with a total capacity of 100 percent of the personnel on board; and

(iii) One rescue boat, except that the rescue boat is not required for deepwater ports with eight or fewer persons on board.

(2) For a deepwater port with 31 or more persons on board:

(i) At least two lifeboats with a total capacity of 100 percent of the personnel on board;

(ii) One or more liferafts with a total capacity so that, if the survival craft at any one location are rendered unusable, there will be craft remaining with a total capacity of 100 percent of the personnel on board; and

(iii) One rescue boat.

(3) Lifeboats may be substituted for liferafts.

(4) Capacity refers to the total number of persons on the deepwater port at any one time, not including temporary personnel. Temporary personnel include: contract workers, official visitors, and any other persons who are not permanent employees. See § 149.305 of this part for additional survival craft requirements when temporary personnel are on board.

(5) The required lifeboats may be used as rescue boats if the lifeboats also meet the requirements for rescue boats in § 149.314 of this part.

(b) Deepwater ports consisting of novel structures or a combination of fixed and/or floating structures may require additional survival craft as deemed necessary by the Commandant (CG-5P). In these cases, the type and number of survival craft must be specified in the operations manual.

§ 149.305 What are the survival craft requirements for temporary personnel?

(a) When temporary personnel are on board a manned deepwater port and the complement exceeds the capacity of the survival craft required under § 149.304 of this part, the deepwater port must have additional liferafts to ensure that the total capacity of the survival craft is not less than 150 percent of the personnel on board at any time.

(b) The liferafts required in paragraph (a) of this section need not meet the launching requirements of paragraph (b) to § 149.308 of this part, but must comply with the stowage requirements of 46 CFR 108.530(c).

§ 149.306 What are the requirements for lifeboats?

(a) Lifeboats must be:

(1) Totally enclosed, fire-protected, and approved under approval series 160.135; and

(2) If the hull or canopy is of aluminum, it must be protected in its stowage position by a water spray system meeting the requirements of 46 CFR 34.25.

(b) Each lifeboat must have at least the provisions and survival equipment required by 46 CFR 108.575(b).

(c) Except for boathooks, the equipment under paragraph (b) of this section must be securely stowed in the lifeboat.

(d) Each lifeboat must have a list of the equipment it is required to carry under paragraph (c) of this section. The list must be posted in the lifeboat.

(e) The manufacturer's instructions for maintenance and repair of the lifeboat, required under § 150.502(a) of this chapter, must be in the lifeboat or on the deepwater port.

§ 149.307 What are the requirements for free-fall lifeboats?

All free-fall lifeboats must be approved under approval series 160.135.

§ 149.308 What are the requirements for liferafts?

(a) Each liferaft must be an inflatable liferaft approved under approval series 160.151, or a rigid liferaft approved under approval series 160.118.

(b) Except as under § 149.305(b) of this subpart, each inflatable or rigid liferaft, boarded from a deck that is more than 4.5 meters (14.75 feet) above the water, must be davit-launched or served by a marine evacuation system complying with § 149.309 to this subpart.

§ 149.309 What are the requirements for marine evacuation systems?

All marine evacuation systems must be approved under approval series 160.175 and comply with the launching arrangement requirements for mobile offshore drilling units in 46 CFR 108.545.

§ 149.310 What are the muster and embarkation requirements for survival craft?

Muster and embarkation arrangements for survival craft must comply with 46 CFR 108.540.

§ 149.311 What are the launching and recovery requirements for lifeboats?

(a) Each lifeboat launched by falls must have a launching and recovery system that complies with 46 CFR 108.555.

(b) Each free-fall lifeboat must have a launching and recovery system that complies with 46 CFR 108.557.

§ 149.312 What are the launching equipment requirements for inflatable liferafts?

(a) Each inflatable liferaft not intended for davit launching must be capable of rapid deployment.

(b) Each liferaft capable of being launched by a davit must have the following launching equipment at each launching station:

(1) A launching device approved under approval series 160.163; and

(2) A mechanical disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 160.170.

(c) The launching equipment must be operable, both from within the liferaft and from the deepwater port.

(d) Winch controls must be located so that the operator can observe the liferaft launching.

(e) The launching equipment must be arranged so that a loaded liferaft does not have to be lifted before it is lowered.

(f) Not more than two liferafts may be launched from the same set of launching equipment.

§ 149.313 How must survival craft be arranged?

The operator must arrange survival craft so that they meet the requirements of 46 CFR 108.525 (a) and § 108.530 and so that they—

(a) Are readily accessible in an emergency;

(b) Are accessible for inspection, maintenance, and testing;

(c) Are in locations clear of overboard discharge piping or openings, and obstructions below; and

(d) Are located so that survival craft with an aggregate capacity to accommodate 100% of the total number of persons authorized to be berthed are readily accessible from the personnel berthing area.

§ 149.314 What are the approval and stowage requirements for rescue boats?

(a) Rescue boats must be approved under approval series 160.156. A lifeboat is acceptable as a rescue boat if it also meets the requirements for a rescue boat under approval series 160.156.

(b) The stowage of rescue boats must comply with 46 CFR 108.565.

§ 149.315 What embarkation, launching, and recovery arrangements must rescue boats meet?

(a) Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched in a current of up to 5 knots. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.

(b) Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.

(c) If the rescue boat is one of the deepwater port's survival craft, then the rescue boat must comply with the muster and embarkation arrangement requirements of § 149.310 of this part.

(d) The rescue boat must comply with the embarkation arrangement requirements of 46 CFR 108.555.

(e) If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus, approved under approval series 160.170, instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.

(f) The rescue boat must be capable of being recovered rapidly when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. If a lifeboat is being used as a rescue boat, rapid recovery must be possible when loaded with its lifeboat equipment and a rescue boat's complement of at least six persons.

(g) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.

(h) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat, when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment, at a rate of not less than 59 feet per minute.

(i) The operator may use an onboard crane to launch a rescue boat if the crane's launching system meets the requirements of this section.

§ 149.316 What are the requirements for lifejackets?

(a) Each lifejacket must be approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.077, or 160.176.

(b) Each lifejacket must have a light approved under approval series 161.012. Each light must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the lifejacket.

(c) Each lifejacket must have a whistle permanently attached by a cord.

(d) Each lifejacket must be fitted with Type I retroreflective material, approved under approval series 164.018.

§ 149.317 How and where must lifejackets be stowed?

(a) The operator must ensure that lifejackets are stowed in readily accessible places in or adjacent to accommodation spaces.

(b) Lifejacket stowage containers and the spaces housing the containers must not be capable of being locked.

(c) The operator must mark each lifejacket container or lifejacket stowage location with the word “LIFEJACKETS” in block letters, and the quantity, identity, and size of the lifejackets stowed inside the container or at the location.

§ 149.318 Must every person on the deepwater port have a lifejacket?

The operator must provide a lifejacket that complies with § 149.316 of this part for each person on a manned deepwater port.

§ 149.319 What additional lifejackets must the deepwater port have?

For each person on duty in a location where the lifejacket required by § 149.317 of this part is not readily accessible, an additional lifejacket must be stowed so as to be readily accessible to that location.

§ 149.320 What are the requirements for ring life buoys?

(a) Ring life buoys must be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150, for SOLAS-approved equipment.

(b) Each ring life buoy must have a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010. The operator must ensure that the light to the ring life buoy is attached by a lanyard of 12-thread manila, or a synthetic rope of equivalent strength, not less than 3 feet nor more than 6 feet in length. The light must be mounted on a bracket near the ring life buoy so that, when the ring life buoy is cast loose, the light will be pulled free of the bracket.

(c) To each ring life buoy, there must be attached a buoyant line of 100 feet in length, with a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons force. The end of the line must not be secured to the deepwater port.

(d) Each ring life buoy must be marked with Type II retroreflective material, approved under approval series 164.018.

§ 149.321 How many ring life buoys must be on each deepwater port?

There must be at least four approved ring life buoys on each manned deepwater port.

§ 149.322 Where must ring life buoys be located and how must they be stowed?

(a) The operator must locate one ring life buoy on each side of the deepwater port and one near each external stairway leading to the water. One buoy per side may be used to satisfy both these requirements.

(b) Each ring life buoy must be stowed on or in a rack that is readily accessible in an emergency. The ring life buoy must not be permanently secured in any way to the rack or the deepwater port.

§ 149.323 What are the requirements for first aid kits?

(a) Each manned deepwater port must have an industrial first aid kit, approved by an appropriate organization, such as the American Red Cross, for the maximum number of persons on the deepwater port.

(b) The first aid kit must be maintained in a space designated as a medical treatment room or, if there is no medical treatment room, under the custody of the person in charge.

(c) The operator must ensure that each first aid kit is accompanied by a copy of either the Department of Health and Human Services Publication No. (PHS) 84-2024, “The Ship's Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea,” available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, or the “American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook,” available from Little Brown and Company, 3 Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02018.

§ 149.324 What are the requirements for litters?

Each manned deepwater port must have at least one Stokes or other suitable litter, capable of safely hoisting an injured person. The litter must be readily accessible in an emergency.

§ 149.325 What emergency communications equipment must be on a manned deepwater port?

Each manned deepwater port must have a radio, telephone, or other means of emergency communication with the shore, vessels, and facilities in the vicinity in the event the primary communications system outlined in § 149.140 of this part fails. This communication equipment must have an emergency power source.

§ 149.326 What are the immersion suit requirements?

Each manned deepwater port located north of 32 degrees North latitude must comply with the immersion suit requirements in 46 CFR 108.580.

§ 149.327 What are the approval requirements for work vests and anti-exposure (deck) suits?

All work vests and anti-exposure (deck) suits on a manned deepwater port must be of a buoyant type approved under:

(a) Approval series 160.053 as a work vest;

(b) Approval series 160.053 or 160.153 as an anti-exposure suit; or

(c) Approval series 160.077 as a commercial hybrid personal flotation device.

§ 149.328 How must work vests and anti-exposure (deck) suits be stowed?

All work vests and deck suits must be stowed separately from lifejackets and in a location that is not easily confused with a storage area for lifejackets.

§ 149.329 How must work vests and deck suits be marked?

All work vests and deck suits must be fitted with Type I retroreflective material, approved under approval series 164.018.

§ 149.330 When may a work vest or deck suit be substituted for a lifejacket?

(a) A work vest or deck suit meeting the requirements of § 149.326 of this part may be used instead of a lifejacket when personnel are working near or over water.

(b) Work vests or deck suits may not be substituted for any portion of the number of approved lifejackets required on the deepwater port or attending vessel for use during drills and emergencies.

§ 149.331 What are the requirements for hybrid personal flotation devices?

(a) The operator must ensure that the use and stowage of all commercial hybrid personal flotation devices (PFDs) used as work vests comply with the procedures required for them in 46 CFR 160.077-29, and all limitations, if any, marked on them.

(b) All commercial hybrid PFDs on the deepwater port must be of the same or similar design and must have the same method of operation.

§ 149.332 What are the requirements for inflatable lifejackets?

(a) Each inflatable lifejacket must be approved under approval series 160.176.

(b) All inflatable lifejackets on a deepwater port must:

(1) Be used and stowed according to the procedures contained in the manual required for them under 46 CFR 160.176-21;

(2) Be marked with all limitations, if any; and

(3) Be of the same or similar design and have the same method of operation.

§ 149.333 What are the marking requirements for lifesaving equipment?

(a) Each lifeboat, rigid liferaft, and survival capsule must be marked on two opposite outboard sides with the name, number, or other inscription identifying the deepwater port on which it is placed, and the number of persons permitted on the craft. Each paddle or oar for these crafts must also be marked with an inscription identifying the deepwater port. The letters and numbers must be at least 100 millimeters (3.94 inches) high on a contrasting background.

(b) Each inflatable liferaft must be marked to meet 46 CFR 160.151-33, and, after each servicing, marked to meet 46 CFR 160.151-57(m).

(c) Each lifejacket and ring life buoy must be conspicuously marked with the name, number, or other inscription identifying the deepwater port on which it is placed. The letters and numbers must be at least 1.5 inches (38 mm) high on a contrasting background. Lifejackets and ring life buoys that accompany mobile crews to unmanned deepwater ports may be marked with the operator's name and field designation.