Title 46—Shipping--Volume 1
PART 128—MARINE ENGINEERING: EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
§ 128.110   Equipment and systems.
(a) Except as provided by this part, the design, installation, testing, and inspection of materials, machinery, pressure vessels, and piping for OSVs of less than 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned) must comply with subchapter F of this chapter.
(b) Except as specifically provided by § 128.310, the design, plan approval, installation, testing, and inspection of materials, machinery, automation, pressure vessels, and piping for OSVs of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned) must comply with subchapter F of this chapter.
(c) This part contains requirements for equipment and systems commonly found on an OSV. If additional or unique systems, such as for low-temperature cargoes, are to be installed, they must comply with subchapter F of this chapter.
§ 128.120   Plan approval.
The plans required by subchapter F of this chapter need not be submitted if the plans required by § 127.110(d) of this subchapter have been.
§ 128.130   Vital systems.
(a) Vital systems are those systems that are vital to a vessel's survivability and safety. For the purpose of this subchapter, the following are vital systems:
(1) Systems for fill, transfer, and service of fuel oil.
(2) Fire-main systems.
(3) Fixed gaseous fire-extinguishing systems.
(4) Bilge systems.
(5) Ballast systems.
(6) Steering systems and steering-control systems.
(7) Propulsion systems and their necessary auxiliaries and control systems.
(8) Systems for transfer and control of cargo, for integral tanks or fixed independent tanks, in compliance with § 125.110 of this subchapter.
(9) Ship's service and emergency electrical-generation systems and their auxiliaries vital to the vessel's survivability and safety.
(10) Any other marine-engineering system identified by the cognizant OCMI as crucial to the survival of the vessel or to the protection of the personnel aboard.
(b) For the purpose of this subchapter, a system not identified by paragraph (a) of this section is a non-vital system.
§ 128.210   Class II vital systems—materials.
Except as provided by §§ 128.230 and 128.240 of this subpart, instead of complying with part 56 of this chapter, materials used in Class II vital piping-systems may be accepted by the cognizant OCMI or the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center, if shown to provide a level of safety equivalent to materials in subpart 56.60 of this chapter.
§ 128.220   Class II non-vital systems—materials and pressure design.
(a) Except as provided by §§ 128.230, 128.240, and 128.320 of this subpart, a Class II non-vital piping-system need not meet the requirements for materials and pressure design of subchapter F of this chapter.
(b) Piping for salt-water service must be of a corrosion-resistant material and, if ferrous, be hot-dip galvanized or be at least of extra-heavy schedule in wall thickness.
(c) Each Class II non-vital piping-system must be certified by the builder as suitable for its intended service. A written certificate to this effect must be submitted with the plans required by § 127.110(d) of this subchapter.
(d) The cognizant OCMI will review the particular installation of each system for the safety hazards identified in paragraphs (a), (b)(1), and (c) through (k) of § 56.50-1 of this chapter, and will add requirements as appropriate.
§ 128.230   Penetrations of hulls and watertight bulkheads—materials and pressure design.
(a) Each piping penetration, in each bulkhead required by this subchapter to be watertight, must meet the requirements for materials and pressure design of subchapter F of this chapter.
(b) Each overboard discharge and shell connection, up to and including required shut-off valves, must meet the requirements for materials and pressure design of subchapter F of this chapter.
§ 128.240   Hydraulic or pneumatic power and control—materials and pressure design.
(a) Each standard piping component (such as pipe runs, fittings, flanges, and standard valves) for hydraulic or pneumatic power and control systems must meet the requirements for materials and pressure design of § 128.110, 128.210, or 128.220 of this part, as appropriate.
(b) Any non-standard hydraulic or pneumatic component (such as control valves, check valves, relief valves, and regulators) may be accepted by the cognizant OCMI or the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center, if the component is certified by the manufacturer as suitable for marine service and if—
(1) The component meets each of the requirements for materials and pressure design of subparts 56.60 and 58.30 of this chapter and if its service is limited to the manufacturer's rated pressure; or
(2) The service of the component is limited to 1/2 the manufacturer's recommended maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) or 1/10 the component's burst pressure. Burst-pressure testing is described in ANSI B 31.1, Paragraph 104.7.A, and must be conducted to comply with Paragraph A-22, Section I, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Written certification of results of burst-pressure testing must be submitted with the plans required by § 127.110(d) of this subchapter.
§ 128.310   Fuel.
(a) OSVs of less than 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned). (1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, each internal-combustion engine installed on an OSV of less than 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned), whether for main propulsion or for auxiliaries, must be driven by a fuel having a flashpoint of not lower than 43 °C (110 °F) as determined by ASTM D 93 (incorporated by reference, see § 125.180).
(2) The use of a fuel with a flashpoint of lower than 43 °C (110 °F) must be specifically approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG), except in an engine for a gasoline-powered rescue boat.
(b) OSVs of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned). (1) Except as provided by paragraph (b)(2) of this section, each internal-combustion engine installed on an OSV of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned), whether for main propulsion or for auxiliaries, must be driven by a fuel having a flashpoint not lower than 60 °C (140 °F) as determined by ASTM D 93 (incorporated by reference, see § 125.180).
(2) The use of a fuel with a flashpoint lower than 60 °C (140 °F) must be specifically approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG), except in an engine for a gasoline-powered rescue boat or emergency generator, or as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
§ 128.320   Exhaust systems.
No diesel-engine exhaust system need meet the material requirements in § 58.10-5(d)(1)(i) of this chapter if the installation is certified as required by § 128.220(c) of this part.
§ 128.410   Ship's service refrigeration systems.
No self-contained unit either for air-conditioning or for refrigerated spaces for ship's stores need comply with § 58.20-5, 58.20-10, 58.20-15, 58.20-20(a), or 58.20-20(b) of this chapter if—
(a) The unit uses a fluorocarbon refrigerant allowed by part 147 of this chapter;
(b) The manufacturer certifies that the unit is suitable for its intended purpose; and
(c) Electrical wiring meets the applicable requirements in subchapter J of this chapter.
§ 128.420   Keel cooler installations.
(a) Except as provided by this section, each keel cooler installation must comply with § 56.50-96 of this chapter.
(b) Approved metallic flexible connections may be located below the deepest-load waterline if the system is a closed loop below the waterline and if its vent is located above the waterline.
(c) Fillet welds may be used in the attachment of channels and half-round pipe sections to the bottom of the vessel.
(d) Short lengths of approved non-metallic flexible hose fixed by metallic or non-metallic hose-clamps may be used at machinery connections if—
(1) The clamps are of a corrosion-resistant material;
(2) The clamps do not depend on spring tension for their holding power; and
(3) Two of the clamps are used on each end of the hose, except that one clamp may be used on an end expanded or beaded to provide a positive stop against hose slippage.
(4) The clamps are resistant to vibration, high temperature, and brittleness.
§ 128.430   Non-integral keel cooler installations.
(a) Each hull penetration for a non-integral keel cooler installation must be made through a cofferdam or at a seachest and must be provided with isolation valves fitted as close to the sea inlet as possible.
(b) Each non-integral keel cooler must be protected against damage from debris and grounding by protective guards or by recessing the cooler into the hull.
§ 128.440   Bilge systems.
(a) Except as provided by this section, each bilge system must comply with §§ 56.50-50 and 56.50-55 of this chapter.
(b) If the steering room, engine room, centerline passageway, forward machinery space, and compartment containing the dry-mud tanks are the only below-deck spaces that must be fitted with bilge suctions, the vessel may be equipped to the standards of §§ 56.50-50 and 56.50-57 of this chapter applicable to a dry-cargo vessel of less than 55 meters (180 feet) in length.
§ 128.450   Liquid-mud systems.
(a) Liquid-mud piping systems may use resiliently seated valves of Category A to comply with §§ 56.20-15 and 56.50-60 of this chapter.
(b) Tanks for oil-based liquid mud must be fitted with tank vents equipped with flame screens. Vents must not discharge to the interior of the vessel.