156.330—Operations.
(a)
Unless otherwise specified in this subpart, or when otherwise authorized by the cognizant Captain of the Port (COTP) or District Commander, the master of a vessel lightering in a zone designated in this subpart shall ensure that all officers and appropriate members of the crew are familiar with the guidelines in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and that the requirements of paragraphs (d) through (l) of this section are complied with.
(b)
Lightering operations should be conducted in accordance with the Oil Companies International Marine Forum Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum), Second Edition, 1988, to the maximum extent practicable.
(c)
Helicopter operations should be conducted in accordance with the International Chamber of Shipping Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations, Third Edition, 1989, to the maximum extent practicable.
(d)
The vessel to be lightered shall make a voice warning prior to the commencement of lightering activities via channel 13 VHF and 2182 Khz. The voice warning shall include:
(e)
In the event of a communications failure between the lightering vessels or the respective persons-in-charge of the transfer, or an equipment failure affecting the vessel's cargo handling capability or ship's maneuverability, the affected vessel shall suspend lightering activities and shall sound at least five short, rapid blasts on the vessel's whistle. Lightering activities shall remain suspended until corrective action has been completed.
(f)
No vessel involved in a lightering operation may open its cargo system until the servicing vessel is securely moored alongside the vessel to be lightered.
(g)
If any vessel not involved in the lightering operation or support activities approaches within 100 meters of vessels engaged in lightering, the vessel engaged in lightering shall warn the approaching vessel by sounding a loud hailer, ship's whistle, or any other appropriate means.
(h)
Only a lightering tender, a supply boat, or a crew boat, equipped with a spark arrestor on its exhaust, or a tank vessel providing bunkers, may moor alongside a vessel engaged in lightering operations.
(i)
Lightering operations shall not be conducted within 1 nautical mile of offshore structures or mobile offshore drilling units.
(j)
No vessel engaged in lightering activities may anchor over charted pipelines, artificial reefs, or historical resources.
(k)
All vessels engaged in lightering activities shall be able to immediately maneuver at all times while inside a designated lightering zone. The main propulsion system must not be disabled at any time.
(l)
In preparing to moor alongside the vessel to be lightered, a service vessel shall not approach the vessel to be lightered closer than 1000 meters unless the service vessel is positioned broad on the quarter of the vessel to be lightered. The service vessel must transition to a nearly parallel heading prior to closing to within 50 meters of the vessel to be lightered.