Current as of: Oct. 2009
(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 Sec. 58.50-15.
(3) Tanks with flanged-up top edges, that may trap and hold moisture, shall not be used.
Table 58.50-10(a)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness in inches and gage numbers 1 vs. tank
ASTM specification
capacities for--
(all incorporated -----------------------------------------------------------
Material
by reference; see
More than 80- and
46 CFR 58.03-1)
1- through 80-
not more than 150-
Over 150-gallon
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...................
B 127, Hot rolled
0.037 (USSG
0.050 (USSG 18)...
0.107 (USSG 12).
sheet or plate.
20).3 Steel or iron 4...............
0.0747 (MfgStd 14)
0.1046 (MfgStd 12)
0.179 (MfgStd 7)..----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Gauges used are U.S. standard ``USSG'' for aluminum and 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.
(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 [deg]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 11/2 times the maximum head to which they may be subjected in service, whichever is greater. A standpipe of 111/2 feet in height attached to the tank may be filled with water to accomplish the 5 pounds per square inch test. Permanent deformation of the tank will not be cause for rejection unless accompanied by leakage.
(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; USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65188, Oct. 31, 2008]________________________________________________________________________
State Laws: Watercraft| Alabama | Alabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 5 - Registration And Operation Of Vessels | | Alabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 6 - Discharge Of Litter And Sewage From Watercraft | | Alabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 6A - Recreational Vessel And Residence Boat Sewage Discharges Regulated | | Alaska | Alaska Statutes Chapter 05.25 - Watercraft | | Alaska Statutes Chapter 30.30 - Abandoned And Derelict Vessels | | Arizona | Arizona Laws > Title 5 > Chapter 3 - Boating And Water Sports | | California | California Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 3 - Vessels | | California Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 4 - Masters, Crews And Cargoes | | California Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 5 - Pilots For Monterey Bay And The Bays Of San Francisco, San Pablo, And Suisun | | Connecticut | Connecticut General Statutes > Title 15 > Chapter 268 - Boating | | Delaware | Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 21 - Motorboats | | Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 22 - Boating Safety | | Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 23 - Operation Of A Vessel Or Boat While Under The Influence Of Intoxicating Liquor And/Or Drugs | | Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 24 - Exemptions From Civil Liability For Rendering Vessel Traffic Information Services | | Florida | Florida Statutes > Title XXIV - Vessels | | Florida Regulations Chapter 61B-60 - Yacht and Ship Brokers | | Florida Regulations > Division 68D - Vessel Registration and Boating Safety | | Idaho | Idaho Code Title 67 > Chapter 70 - Idaho Safe Boating Act | | Illinois | Illinois Compiled Statutes > 625 ILCS 45 - Boat Registration and Safety Act | | Indiana | Indiana Code > Title 9 > Article 31 - Watercraft Titling And Registration | | Indiana Code > Title 25 > Article 28 - Boat Pilots | | Kansas | Kansas Statutes > Chapter 32 > Article 11 - Boating And Water Activities | | Maine | Maine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 204-B - Watercraft Manufacturers, Distributors And Dealers | | Maine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 212-A - Maine Marina And Boatyard Storage Act | | Maine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 627 - Vessels | | Maine Revised Statutes > Title 12 > Chapter 935 - Watercraft And Airmobiles | | Maine Revised Statutes Title 23 > Chapter 412 - Waterborne Transportation | | Massachusetts | Massachusetts General Laws > Part I > Title XIV > Chapter 90B - Motorboats And Other Vessels | | Michigan | Michigan Laws > Chapter 123 > Act 68 of 1957 - Regulation of Houseboats | | Michigan Laws > Chapter 445 > Act 88 of 1989 - Watercraft and Outboard Motor Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers | | Michigan Laws > Chapter 570 > Act 59 of 1864 - Lien On Watercraft | | Michigan Laws > Chapter 750 > Act 328 of 1931 > Chapter XV - Boats and Navigation | | Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes Chapter 86B - Water Safety, Watercraft, and Watercraft Titling | | Missouri | Missouri Laws > Title XIX > Chapter 306 - Watercraft Regulation and Licensing--State Water Patrol | | Nevada | Nevada Revised Statutes > Chapter 488 - Watercraft | | New Hampshire | New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-A - Use Of Houseboats | | New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-B - Abandoned Boats | | New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-D - Boating And Water Safety On New Hampshire Public Waters | | New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-E - Vessel Registration And Numbering | | New Mexico | New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 > Article 12 - Boating | | New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 > Article 13 - Boating While Intoxicated | | New York | New York Laws - General Business > Article 38 - Vessel Dealer Agreements | | New York | New York Laws > General Business > Article 38 - Vessel Dealer Agreements | | North Carolina | North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 75A - Boating and Water Safety | | North Dakota | North Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-13 - Boating Regulation | | North Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-13.1 - Intoxication Testing of Boat Operators | | North Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-17 - Aquatic Nuisance Species | | Ohio | Ohio Code > Title 15 > Chapter 1547 - Watercraft And Waterways | | Ohio Code > Title 15 > Chapter 1548 - Watercraft Certificates Of Title | | Ohio Code > Title 45 > Chapter 4585 - Actions Relating To Watercraft | | Oregon | Oregon Statutes > Title 61 - Small Watercraft | | Rhode Island | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-8. Registration of Outboard Motors | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-9. Pilots – Rhode Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Sakonnet River, and Tributaries | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-9.1. Pilots–Block Island Sound | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22. Regulation of Boats | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22.1. Uniform Boat Title Act | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22.2. Alcohol Boating Safety Act | | Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-27. Personal Watercraft Safety Act | | South Carolina | South Carolina Code > Title 29 > Chapter 9 - Liens On Ships And Vessels | | South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 21 - Equipment And Operation Of Watercraft | | South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 23 - Watercraft And Outboard Motors | | South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 25 - Boating And Surfing At Particular Localities | | South Dakota | South Dakota Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 03A - Title, Registration And Taxation Of Boats | | South Dakota Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 07B - Regulation Of Boat Dealers | | South Dakota Laws > Title 42 > Chapter 8 - Watercraft | | Tennessee | Tennessee Code > Title 69 > Chapter 9 - Boating Regulation | | Texas | Texas Civil Statutes > Title 132 > Chapter 19 - Boat Or Motor Manufacturers, Distributors, And Dealers | | Utah | Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - State Boating Act | | Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Boating - Litter and Pollution Control | | Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Water Safety | | Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Financial Responsibility of Motorboat Owners and Operators Act | | Vermont | Vermont Statutes > Title 25 > Chapter 1 - Operation of Vessels | | Virginia | Virginia Code Title 29.1 > Chapter 7 - Boating Laws | | Virginia Code Title 29.1 > Chapter 8 - Watercraft Dealer Licensing Act | | Virginia Code Title 62.1 > Chapter 18 - Protection of Aids to Navigation | | Wisconsin | Wisconsin Statutes > Chapter 30 > Subchapter V - Regulation Of Boating |
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