Shipping - 46 USC Section 3706

01/19/04

Sec. 3706. Product carrier minimum standards

(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 before January 2, 1986, or the
date on which it reaches 15 years of age, whichever is later.
(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.

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
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Revised section Source section (U.S. Code)
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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)
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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.

Last modified: April 20, 2006