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Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters

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PART 159—MARINE SANITATION DEVICES 

Section Contents

Subpart A—General

§ 159.1 Purpose.

§ 159.3 Definitions.

§ 159.4 Incorporation by reference.

§ 159.5 Requirements for vessel manufacturers.

§ 159.7 Requirements for vessel operators.

Subpart B—Certification Procedures

§ 159.11 Purpose.

§ 159.12 Regulations for certification of existing devices.

§ 159.12a Certification of certain Type III devices.

§ 159.14 Application for certification.

§ 159.15 Certification.

§ 159.16 Authorization to label devices.

§ 159.17 Changes to certified devices.

§ 159.19 Testing equivalency.

Subpart C—Design, Construction, and Testing

§ 159.51 Purpose and scope.

§ 159.53 General requirements.

§ 159.55 Identification.

§ 159.57 Installation, operation, and maintenance instructions.

§ 159.59 Placard.

§ 159.61 Vents.

§ 159.63 Access to parts.

§ 159.65 Chemical level indicator.

§ 159.67 Electrical component ratings.

§ 159.69 Motor ratings.

§ 159.71 Electrical controls and conductors.

§ 159.73 Conductors.

§ 159.75 Overcurrent protection.

§ 159.79 Terminals.

§ 159.81 Baffles.

§ 159.83 Level indicator.

§ 159.85 Sewage removal.

§ 159.87 Removal fittings.

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§ 159.89 Power interruption: Type I and II devices.

§ 159.93 Independent supporting.

§ 159.95 Safety.

§ 159.97 Safety: inspected vessels.

§ 159.101 Testing: general.

§ 159.103 Vibration test.

§ 159.105 Shock test.

§ 159.107 Rolling test.

§ 159.109 Pressure test.

§ 159.111 Pressure and vacuum pulse test.

§ 159.115 Temperature range test.

§ 159.117 Chemical resistance test.

§ 159.119 Operability test; temperature range.

§ 159.121 Sewage processing test.

§ 159.123 Coliform test: Type I devices.

§ 159.125 Visible floating solids: Type I devices.

§ 159.126 Coliform test: Type II devices.

§ 159.126a Suspended solids test: Type II devices.

§ 159.127 Safety coliform count: Recirculating devices.

§ 159.129 Safety: Ignition prevention test.

§ 159.131 Safety: Incinerating device.

Subpart D—Recognition of Facilities

§ 159.201 Recognition of facilities.

Subpart E—Discharge of Effluents in Certain Alaskan Waters by Cruise Vessel 

Operations

§ 159.301 Purpose.

§ 159.303 Applicability.

§ 159.305 Definitions.

§ 159.307 Untreated sewage.

§ 159.309 Limitations on discharge of treated sewage or graywater.

§ 159.311 Safety exception.

§ 159.313 Inspection for compliance and enforcement.

§ 159.315 Sewage and graywater discharge record book.

§ 159.317 Sampling and reporting.

§ 159.319 Fecal coliform and total suspended solids standards.

§ 159.321 Enforcement.

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1322(b)(1); 49 CFR 1.45(b). Subpart E also issued under authority of 

sec. 1(a)(4), Pub. L. 106–554, 114 Stat. 2763; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 

No. 0170.1. 

Source: CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, unless otherwise noted. 

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 159 appear by USCG–2008–0179, 73 FR 35015, June 

19, 2008. 

Subpart A—General 

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§ 159.1 Purpose. 

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This part prescribes regulations governing the design and construction of marine sanitation devices and 

procedures for certifying that marine sanitation devices meet the regulations and the standards of the 

Environmental Protection Agency promulgated under section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 

Act (33 U.S.C. 1322), to eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage from vessels into the waters of the 

United States, including the territorial seas. Subpart A of this part contains regulations governing the 

manufacture and operation of vessels equipped with marine sanitation devices. 

§ 159.3 Definitions. 

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In this part: 

Coast Guard means the Commandant or his authorized representative. 

Discharge includes, but is not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pouring, pumping, emitting, emptying, or 

dumping. 

Existing vessel includes any vessel, the construction of which was initiated before January 30, 1975. 

Fecal coliform bacteria are those organisms associated with the intestine of warm-blooded animals that 

are commonly used to indicate the presence of fecal material and the potential presence of organisms 

capable of causing human disease. 

Inspected vessel means any vessel that is required to be inspected under 46 CFR Ch. I. 

Length means a straight line measurement of the overall length from the foremost part of the vessel to 

the aftermost part of the vessel, measured parallel to the centerline. Bow sprits, bumpkins, rudders, 

outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments are not to be included in the measurement. 

Manufacturer means any person engaged in manufacturing, assembling, or importing of marine 

sanitation devices or of vessels subject to the standards and regulations promulgated under section 312 

of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 

Marine sanitation device and device includes any equipment for installation on board a vessel which is 

designed to receive, retain, treat, or discharge sewage, and any process to treat such sewage. 

New vessel includes any vessel, the construction of which is initiated on or after January 30, 1975. 

Person means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or association, but does not include an 

individual on board a public vessel. 

Public vessel means a vessel owned or bare-boat chartered and operated by the United States, by a 

State or political subdivision thereof, or by a foreign nation, except when such vessel is engaged in 

commerce. 

Recognized facility means any laboratory or facility listed by the Coast Guard as a recognized facility 

under this part. 

Sewage means human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to 

receive or retain body waste. 

Territorial seas means the belt of the seas measured from the line of ordinary low water along that 

portion of the coast which is in direct contact with the open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of 

inland waters, and extending seaward a distance of 3 miles. 

Type I marine sanitation device means a device that, under the test conditions described in §§159.123 

and 159.125, produces an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 

milliliters and no visible floating solids. 

Type II marine sanitation device means a device that, under the test conditions described in §§159.126 

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and 159.126a, produces an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 

milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter. 

Type III marine sanitation device means a device that is designed to prevent the overboard discharge of 

treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived from sewage. 

Uninspected vessel means any vessel that is not required to be inspected under 46 CFR Chapter I. 

United States includes the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 

Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Canal Zone, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. 

Vessel includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being 

used, as a means of transportation on the waters of the United States. 

[CGD 96–026, 61 FR 33668, June 28, 1996, as amended by CGD 95–028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 

1997] 

§ 159.4 Incorporation by reference. 

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(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the 

Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that 

specified in paragraph (b) of this section, the Coast Guard must publish 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 Engineering Division, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 

7102, Washington, DC 20593–7102, and 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. All approved 

material is available from the sources indicated in paragraph (b) of this section. 

(b) The material approved for incorporation by reference in this part, and the sections affected, are as 

follows: 

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959. 

ASTM E 11–95, Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes—

159.125 

[USCG–1999–5151, 64 FR 67176, Dec. 1, 1999, as amended by USCG–2001–9286, 66 FR 33641, 

June 25, 2001; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004; USCG–2010–0351, 75 FR 36286, June 25, 2010] 

§ 159.5 Requirements for vessel manufacturers. 

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No manufacturer may manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale or resale any vessel 

equipped with installed toilet facilities unless it is equipped with: 

(a) An operable Type II or III device that has a label on it under §159.16 or that is certified under 

§159.12 or §159.12a; or 

(b) An operable Type I device that has a label on it under §159.16 or that is certified under §159.12, if 

the vessel is 19.7 meters (65 feet) or less in length. 

[CGD 95–028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 1997] 

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§ 159.7 Requirements for vessel operators. 

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(a) No person may operate any vessel equipped with installed toilet facilities unless it is equipped with: 

(1) An operable Type II or III device that has a label on it under §159.16 or that is certified under 

§159.12 or §159.12a; or 

(2) An operable Type I device that has a label on it under §159.16 or that is certified under §159.12, if 

the vessel is 19.7 meters (65 feet) or less in length. 

(b) When operating a vessel on a body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated sewage is 

prohibited by the Environmental Protection Agency under 40 CFR 140.3 or 140.4, the operator must 

secure each Type I or Type II device in a manner which prevents discharge of treated or untreated 

sewage. Acceptable methods of securing the device include— 

(1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle; 

(2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position; 

(3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or 

(4) Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock. 

(c) When operating a vessel on a body of water where the discharge of untreated sewage is prohibited 

by the Environmental Protection Agency under 40 CFR 140.3, the operator must secure each Type III 

device in a manner which prevents discharge of sewage. Acceptable methods of securing the device 

include— 

(1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle; 

(2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or 

(3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed 

position. 

[CGH 95–028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 1997] 

Subpart B—Certification Procedures 

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§ 159.11 Purpose. 

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This subpart prescribes procedures for certification of marine sanitation devices and authorization for 

labels on certified devices. 

§ 159.12 Regulations for certification of existing devices. 

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(a) The purpose of this section is to provide regulations for certification of existing devices until 

manufacturers can design and manufacture devices that comply with this part and recognized facilities 

are prepared to perform the testing required by this part. 

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(b) Any Type III device that was installed on an existing vessel before January 30, 1975, is considered 

certified. 

(c) Any person may apply to the Commanding Officer, USCG Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., 

Stop 7102, Washington, DC 20593–7102 for certification of a marine sanitation device manufactured 

before January 30, 1976. The Coast Guard will issue a letter certifying the device if the applicant shows 

that the device meets §159.53 by: 

(1) Evidence that the device meets State standards at least equal to the standards in §159.53, or 

(2) Test conducted under this part by a recognized laboratory, or 

(3) Evidence that the device is substantially equivalent to a device certified under this section, or 

(4) A Coast Guard field test if considered necessary by the Coast Guard. 

(d) The Coast Guard will maintain and make available a list that identifies each device certified under 

this section. 

(e) Devices certified under this section in compliance with §159.53 need not meet the other regulations 

in this part and may not be labeled under §159.16. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976; 

CGD 82–063a, 48 FR 4776, Feb. 3, 1983; CGD 88–052, 53 FR 25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96–026, 61 

FR 33668, June 28, 1996; USCG–2001–9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001; USCG–2010–0351, 75 FR 

36286, June 25, 2010] 

§ 159.12a Certification of certain Type III devices. 

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(a) The purpose of this section is to provide regulations for certification of certain Type III devices. 

(b) Any Type III device is considered certified under this section if: 

(1) It is used solely for the storage of sewage and flushwater at ambient air pressure and temperature; 

and 

(2) It is in compliance with §159.53(c). 

(c) Any device certified under this section need not comply with the other regulations in this part except 

as required in paragraphs (b)(2) and (d) of this section and may not be labeled under §159.16. 

(d) Each device certified under this section which is installed aboard an inspected vessel must comply 

with §159.97. 

[CGD 76–145, 42 FR 11, Jan. 3, 1977] 

§ 159.14 Application for certification. 

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(a) Any manufacturer may apply to any recognized facility for certification of a marine sanitation device. 

The application for certification must indicate whether the device will be used aboard all vessels or only 

aboard uninspected vessels and to which standard in §159.53 the manufacturer requests the device to 

be tested. 

(b) An application may be in any format but must be in writing and must be signed by an authorized 

representative of the manufacturer and include or be accompanied by: 

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(1) A complete description of the manufacturer's production quality control and inspection methods, 

record keeping systems pertaining to the manufacture of marine sanitation devices, and testing 

procedures; 

(2) The design for the device, including drawings, specifications and other information that describes the 

materials, construction and operation of the device; 

(3) The installation, operation, and maintenance instructions for the device; and 

(4) The name and address of the applicant and the manufacturing facility. 

(c) The manufacturer must furnish the recognized facility one device of each model for which certification 

is requested and samples of each material from which the device is constructed, that must be tested 

destructively under §159.117. The device furnished is for the testing required by this part except that, for 

devices that are not suited for unit testing, the manufacturer may submit the design so that the 

recognized facility may determine the components of the device and materials to be submitted for testing 

and the tests to be performed at a place other than the facility. The Coast Guard must review and accept 

all such determinations before testing is begun. 

(d) At the time of submittal of an application to a recognized facility the manufacturer must notify the 

Coast Guard of the type and model of the device, the name of the recognized facility to which application 

is being made, and the name and address of the manufacturer, and submit a signed statement of the 

times when the manufacturer will permit designated officers and employees of the Coast Guard to have 

access to the manufacturer's facilities and all records required by this part. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.15 Certification. 

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(a) The recognized facility must evaluate the information that is submitted by the manufacturer in 

accordance with §159.14(b) (1), (2), and (3), evaluate the device for compliance with §§159.53 through 

159.95, test the device in accordance with §159.101 and submit to the Commanding Officer, USCG 

Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 7102, Washington, DC 20593–7102 the following: 

(1) The information that is required under §159.14(b); 

(2) A report on compliance evaluation; 

(3) A description of each test; 

(4) Test results; and 

(5) A statement, that is signed by the person in charge of testing, that the test results are accurate and 

complete. 

(b) The Coast Guard certifies a test device, on the design of the device, if it determines, after 

consideration of the information that is required under paragraph (a) of this section, that the device 

meets the requirements in Subpart C of this part. 

(c) The Coast Guard notifies the manufacturer and recognized facility of its determination under 

paragraph (b) of this section. If the device is certified, the Coast Guard includes a certification number 

for the device. If certification is denied, the Coast Guard notifies the manufacturer and recognized facility 

of the requirements of this part that are not met. The manufacturer may appeal a denial to the 

Commanding Officer, USCG Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 7102, Washington, DC 

20593–7102. 

(d) If upon re-examination of the test device, the Coast Guard determines that the device does not in fact 

comply with the requirements of Subpart C of this part, it may terminate the certification. 

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[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976; 

CGD 82–063a, 48 FR 4776, Feb. 3, 1983; CGD 88–052, 53 FR 25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96–026, 61 

FR 33668, June 28, 1996; USCG–2001–9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001; USCG–2010–0351, 75 FR 

36286, June 25, 2010] 

§ 159.16 Authorization to label devices. 

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(a) When a test device is certified under §159.15(b), the Coast Guard will issue a letter that authorizes 

the manufacturer to label each device that he manufactures with the manufacturer's certification that the 

device is in all material respects substantially the same as a test device certified by the U.S. Coast 

Guard pursuant to section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. 

(b) Certification placed on a device by its manufacturer under this section is the certification required by 

section 312(h)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, which makes it 

unlawful for a vessel that is subject to the standards and regulations promulgated under the Act to 

operate on the navigable waters of the United States, if such vessel is not equipped with an operable 

marine sanitation device certified pursuant to section 312 of the Act. 

(c) Letters of authorization issued under this section are valid for 5 years, unless sooner suspended, 

withdrawn, or terminated and may be reissued upon written request of the manufacturer to whom the 

letter was issued. 

(d) The Coast Guard, in accordance with the procedure in 46 CFR 2.75, may suspend, withdraw, or 

terminate any letter of authorization issued under this section if the Coast Guard finds that the 

manufacturer is engaged in the manufacture of devices labeled under this part that are not in all material 

respects substantially the same as a test device certified pursuant to this part. 

§ 159.17 Changes to certified devices. 

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(a) The manufacturer of a device that is certified under this part shall notify the Commanding Officer, 

USCG Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 7102, Washington, DC 20593–7102 in writing of 

any change in the design of the device. 

(b) A manufacturer shall include with a notice under paragraph (a) of this section a description of the 

change, its advantages, and the recommendation of the recognized facility as to whether the device 

remains in all material respects substantially the same as the original test device. 

(c) After notice under paragraph (a) of this section, the Coast Guard notifies the manufacturer and the 

recognized facility in writing of any tests that must be made for certification of the device or for any 

change in the letter of authorization. The manufacturer may appeal this determination to the 

Commandant (CG–52), 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 7126, Washington, DC 20593–7126. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 82–063a, 48 FR 4776, Feb. 3, 1983; 

CGD 88–052, 53 FR 25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96–026, 61 FR 33668, June 28, 1996; USCG–2001–

9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001; USCG–2010–0351, 75 FR 36286, June 25, 2010] 

§ 159.19 Testing equivalency. 

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(a) If a test required by this part may not be practicable or necessary, a manufacturer may apply to the 

Commanding Officer, USCG Marine Safety Center, 2100 2nd St. SW., Stop 7102, Washington, DC 

20593–7102 for deletion or approval of an alternative test as equivalent to the test requirements in this 

part. The application must include the manufacturer's justification for deletion or the alternative test and 

any alternative test data. 

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(b) The Coast Guard notifies the manufacturer of its determination under paragraph (a) of this section 

and that determination is final. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 82–063a, 48 FR 4776, Feb. 3, 1983; 

CGD 88–052, 53 FR 25122, July 1, 1988; CGD 96–026, 61 FR 33668, June 28, 1996; USCG–2001–

9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001; USCG–2010–0351, 75 FR 36286, June 25, 2010] 

Subpart C—Design, Construction, and Testing 

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§ 159.51 Purpose and scope. 

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(a) This subpart prescribes regulations governing the design and construction of marine sanitation 

devices. 

(b) Unless otherwise authorized by the Coast Guard each device for which certification under this part is 

requested must meet the requirements of this subpart. 

§ 159.53 General requirements. 

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A device must: 

(a) Under the test conditions described in §§159.123 and 159.125, produce an effluent having a fecal 

coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 milliliters and no visible floating solids (Type I), 

(b) Under the test conditions described in §§159.126 and 159.126a, produce an effluent having a fecal 

coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 

150 milligrams per liter (Type II), or 

(c) Be designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived 

from sewage (Type III). 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.55 Identification. 

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(a) Each production device must be legibly marked in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section with 

the following information: 

(1) The name of the manufacturer. 

(2) The name and model number of the device. 

(3) The month and year of completion of manufacture. 

(4) Serial number. 

(5) Whether the device is certified for use on an inspected or an uninspected vessel. 

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(6) Whether the device is Type I, II, or III. 

(b) The information required by paragraph (a) of this section must appear on a nameplate attached to 

the device or in lettering on the device. The nameplate or lettering stamped on the device must be 

capable of withstanding without loss of legibility the combined effects of normal wear and tear and 

exposure to water, salt spray, direct sunlight, heat, cold, and any substance listed in §159.117(b) and 

(c). The nameplate and lettering must be designed to resist efforts to remove them from the device or 

efforts to alter the information stamped on the nameplate or the device without leaving some obvious 

evidence of the attempted removal or alteration. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.57 Installation, operation, and maintenance instructions. 

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(a) The instructions supplied by the manufacturer must contain directions for each of the following: 

(1) Installation of the device in a manner that will permit ready access to all parts of the device requiring 

routine service and that will provide any flue clearance necessary for fire safety. 

(2) Safe operation and servicing of the device so that any discharge meets the applicable requirements 

of §159.53. 

(3) Cleaning, winter layup, and ash or sludge removal. 

(4) Installation of a vent or flue pipe. 

(5) The type and quantity of chemicals that are required to operate the device, including instructions on 

the proper handling, storage and use of these chemicals. 

(6) Recommended methods of making required plumbing and electrical connections including fuel 

connections and supply circuit overcurrent protection. 

(b) The instructions supplied by the manufacturer must include the following information: 

(1) The name of the manufacturer. 

(2) The name and model number of the device. 

(3) Whether the device is certified for use on an inspected, or uninspected vessel. 

(4) A complete parts list. 

(5) A schematic diagram showing the relative location of each part. 

(6) A wiring diagram. 

(7) A description of the service that may be performed by the user without coming into contact with 

sewage or chemicals. 

(8) Average and peak capacity of the device for the flow rate, volume, or number of persons that the 

device is capable of serving and the period of time the device is rated to operate at peak capacity. 

(9) The power requirements, including voltage and current. 

(10) The type and quantity of fuel required. 

(11) The duration of the operating cycle for unitized incinerating devices. 

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(12) The maximum angles of pitch and roll at which the device operates in accordance with the 

applicable requirements of §159.53. 

(13) Whether the device is designed to operate in salt, fresh, or brackish water. 

(14) The maximum hydrostatic pressure at which a pressurized sewage retention tank meets the 

requirements of §159.111. 

(15) The maximum operating level of liquid retention components. 

(16) Whether the device is Type I, II, or III. 

(17) A statement as follows: 

Note: The EPA standards state that in freshwater lakes, freshwater reservoirs or other 

freshwater impoundments whose inlets or outlets are such as to prevent the ingress or egress 

by vessel traffic subject to this regulation, or in rivers not capable of navigation by interstate 

vessel traffic subject to this regulation, marine sanitation devices certified by the U.S. Coast 

Guard installed on all vessels shall be designed and operated to prevent the overboard 

discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, or of any waste derived from sewage. The EPA 

standards further state that this shall not be construed to prohibit the carriage of Coast Guardcertified flow-through treatment devices which have been secured so as to prevent such 

discharges. They also state that waters where a Coast Guard-certified marine sanitation 

device permitting discharge is allowed include coastal waters and estuaries, the Great Lakes 

and interconnected waterways, freshwater lakes and impoundments accessible through locks, 

and other flowing waters that are navigable interstate by vessels subject to this regulation (40 

CFR 140.3).

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.59 Placard. 

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Each device must have a placard suitable for posting on which is printed the operating instructions, 

safety precautions, and warnings pertinent to the device. The size of the letters printed on the placard 

must be one-eighth of an inch or larger. 

§ 159.61 Vents. 

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Vents must be designed and constructed to minimize clogging by either the contents of the tank or 

climatic conditions such as snow or ice. 

§ 159.63 Access to parts. 

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Each part of the device that is required by the manufacturer's instructions to be serviced routinely must 

be readily accessible in the installed position of the device recommended by the manufacturer. 

§ 159.65 Chemical level indicator. 

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The device must be equipped with one of the following: 

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(a) A means of indicating the amount in the device of any chemical that is necessary for its effective 

operation. 

(b) A means of indicating when chemicals must be added for the proper continued operation of the 

device. 

§ 159.67 Electrical component ratings. 

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Electrical components must have current and voltage ratings equal to or greater than the maximum load 

they may carry. 

§ 159.69 Motor ratings. 

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Motors must be rated to operate at 50 °C ambient temperature. 

§ 159.71 Electrical controls and conductors. 

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Electrical controls and conductors must be installed in accordance with good marine practice. Wire must 

be copper and must be stranded. Electrical controls and conductors must be protected from exposure to 

chemicals and sewage. 

§ 159.73 Conductors. 

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Current carrying conductors must be electrically insulated from non-current carrying metal parts. 

§ 159.75 Overcurrent protection. 

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Overcurrent protection must be provided within the unit to protect subcomponents of the device if the 

manufacturer's recommended supply circuit overcurrent protection is not adequate for these 

subcomponents. 

§ 159.79 Terminals. 

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Terminals must be solderless lugs with ring type or captive spade ends, must have provisions for being 

locked against movement from vibration, and must be marked for identification on the wiring diagram 

required in §159.57. Terminal blocks must be nonabsorbent and securely mounted. Terminal blocks 

must be provided with barrier insulation that prevents contact between adjacent terminals or metal 

surfaces. 

§ 159.81 Baffles. 

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Baffles in sewage retention tanks, if any, must have openings to allow liquid and vapor to flow freely 

across the top and bottom of the tank. 

§ 159.83 Level indicator. 

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Each sewage retention device must have a means of indicating when the device is more than3/4full by 

volume. 

§ 159.85 Sewage removal. 

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The device must be designed for efficient removal of nearly all of the liquid and solids in the sewage 

retention tank. 

§ 159.87 Removal fittings. 

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If sewage removal fittings or adapters are provided with the device, they must be of either 11/2" or 4" 

nominal pipe size. 

§ 159.89 Power interruption: Type I and II devices. 

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A discharge device must be designed so that a momentary loss of power during operation of the device 

does not allow a discharge that does not meet the requirements in §159.53. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.93 Independent supporting. 

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The device must have provisions for supporting that are independent from connecting pipes. 

§ 159.95 Safety. 

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(a) Each device must— 

(1) Be free of design defects such as rough or sharp edges that may cause bodily injuries or that would 

allow toxic substances to escape to the interior of the vessel; 

(2) Be vented or provided with a means to prevent an explosion or over pressurization as a result of an 

accumulation of gases; and 

(3) Meet all other safety requirements of the regulations applicable to the type of vessel for which it is 

certified. 

(b) A chemical that is specified or provided by the manufacturer for use in the operation of a device and 

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is defined as a hazardous material in 46 CFR Part 146 must be certified by the procedures in 46 CFR 

Part 147. 

(c) Current carrying components must be protected from accidental contact by personnel operating or 

routinely servicing the device. All current carrying components must as a minimum be of drip-proof 

construction or be enclosed within a drip-proof compartment. 

§ 159.97 Safety: inspected vessels. 

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The Commanding Officer, USCG Marine Safety Center, approves the design and construction of 

devices to be certified for installation and operation on board inspected vessels on the basis of tests and 

reports of inspection under the applicable marine engineering requirements in subchapter F of Title 46, 

Code of Federal Regulations, and under the applicable electrical engineering requirements in 

subchapter J of Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976; 

USCG–2001–9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001] 

§ 159.101 Testing: general. 

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Unless otherwise authorized by the Coast Guard, a recognized facility must perform each test described 

in §§159.103 through 159.131. The same device must be used for each test and tested in the order in 

which the tests are described. There must be no cracking, softening, deterioration, displacement, 

breakage, leakage or damage of components or materials that affects the operation or safety of the 

device after each test described in §§159.103 through 159.117 and §159.121, and the device must 

remain operable after the test described in §159.119. The device must be set up in a manner simulating 

installation on a vessel in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions with respect to mounting, 

water supply, and discharge fittings. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.103 Vibration test. 

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The device, with liquid retention components, if any, filled with water to one-half of their volume, must be 

subjected to a sinusoidal vibration for a period of 12 hours, 4 hours in each of the x, y, and z planes, at 

the resonant frequency of the device (or at 55 cycles per second if there is no resonant frequency 

between 10 to 60 hertz) and with a peak amplitude of 0.019 to 0.021 inches. 

§ 159.105 Shock test. 

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The device, with liquid retention components, if any, filled with water to half of their volume, must be 

subjected to 1,000 vertical shocks that are ten times the force of gravity (10g) and have a duration of 

20–25 milliseconds measured at the base of the half-sine shock envelope. 

§ 159.107 Rolling test. 

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(a) The device, with liquid retention components, if any, filled with water to half of their volume, must be 

subjected to 100 cycles with the axis of rotation 4 feet from the centerline of the device, no more than 6 

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inches below the plane of the bottom of the device, and parallel to any tank baffles. The device must 

then be rotated 90 degrees on its vertical axis and subjected to another 100 cycles. This testing must be 

repeated with the liquid retention components filled to the maximum operating level as specified by the 

manufacturer in §159.57. 

(b) Eighty percent of the rolling action must be approximately 15 degrees on either side of the vertical 

and at a cyclic rate of 3 to 4 seconds. Twenty percent motions must be approximately 30 degrees, or the 

maximum angle specified by the manufacturer under §159.57, whichever is greater, on either side of the 

vertical at a cyclic rate of 6 to 8 seconds. 

§ 159.109 Pressure test. 

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Any sewage retention tank that is designed to operate under pressure must be pressurized 

hydrostatically at a pressure head of 7 feet or to 150 percent of the maximum pressure specified by the 

manufacturer for operation of the tank, whichever is greater. The tank must hold the water at this 

pressure for 1 hour with no evidence of leaking. 

§ 159.111 Pressure and vacuum pulse test. 

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Liquid retention components of the device with manufacturer specified venting installed must be 

subjected to 50 fillings of water at a pressure head of 7 feet or the maximum pressure specified by the 

manufacturer for operation of the device, whichever is greater, and then emptied with a 45 gallon per 

minute or larger positive displacement pump that remains in operation 30 seconds after emptying the 

tank at the end of each cycle. 

§ 159.115 Temperature range test. 

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(a) The device must be held at a temperature of 60 °C or higher for a period of 16 hours. 

(b) The device must be held at a temperature of −40 °C or less for a period of 16 hours following 

winterization in accordance with manufacturers' instructions. 

§ 159.117 Chemical resistance test. 

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(a) In each case where the recognized facility doubts the ability of a material to withstand exposure to 

the substances listed in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section a sample of the material must be tested. 

(b) A sample referred to in paragraph (a) of this section must be partially submerged in each of the 

following substances for 100 hours at an ambient temperature of 22 °C. 

(1) Sewage. 

(2) Any disinfectant that is required in the operation of the device. 

(3) Any chemical compound in solid, liquid or gaseous form, used, emitted or produced in the operation 

of the device. 

(4) Fresh or salt (3.5 percent Sodium Chloride) flush water. 

(5) Toilet bowl cleaners. 

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(6) Engine Oil (SAE/30). 

(7) Ethylene Glycol. 

(8) Detergents (household and bilge cleaning type). 

(c) A sample of the material must be doused 20 times, with a 1 hour drying period between dousings, in 

each of the following substances: 

(1) Gasoline. 

(2) Diesel fuel. 

(3) Mineral spirits. 

(4) Turpentine. 

(5) Methyl alcohol. 

§ 159.119 Operability test; temperature range. 

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The device must operate in an ambient temperature of 5 °C with inlet operating fluid temperature varying 

from 2 °C to 32 °C and in an ambient temperature of 50 °C with inlet operating fluid temperature varying 

from 2 °C to 32 °C. 

§ 159.121 Sewage processing test. 

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(a) The device must process human sewage in the manner for which it is designed when tested in 

accordance with this section. There must be no sewage or sewage-treating chemicals remaining on 

surfaces or in crevices that could come in contact with a person using the device or servicing the device 

in accordance with the instructions supplied under §159.57(b)(7). 

(b) During the test the device must be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's 

instructions. Any initial start-up time specified by the manufacturer must be allowed before test periods 

begin. For 1 hour of each 8-hour test period, the device must be tilted to the maximum angles specified 

by the manufacturer under §§159.55 and 159.57. 

(c) Except for devices described in paragraph (d) of this section, the devices must process and 

discharge or store human sewage over at least an 8-consecutive hour period on at least 10 days within 

a 20-day period. The device must receive human sewage consisting of fecal matter, urine, and toilet 

paper in a ratio of four urinations to one defecation with at least one defecation per person per day. 

Devices must be tested at their average rate of capacity as specified in §159.57. In addition, during three 

periods of each day the system must process sewage at the peak capacity for the period of time it is 

rated at peak capacity. 

(d) A device that processes and discharges continuously between individual use periods or a large 

device, as determined by the Coast Guard, must process and discharge sewage over at least 10-

consecutive days at the average daily capacity specified by the manufacturer. During three periods of 

each day the system must process sewage at the peak capacity for the period of time it is rated at peak 

capacity. The sewage for this test must be fresh, domestic sewage to which primary sludge has been 

added, as necessary, to create a test sewage with a minimum of 500 milligrams of suspended solids per 

liter. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by USCG–2002–12471, 67 FR 41333, June 18, 

2002] 

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§ 159.123 Coliform test: Type I devices. 

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(a) The arithmetic mean of the fecal coliform bacteria in 38 of 40 samples of effluent discharged from a 

Type I device during the test described in §159.121 must be less than 1000 per 100 milliliters when 

tested in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136. 

(b) The 40 samples must be taken from the device as follows: During each of the 10-test days, one 

sample must be taken at the beginning, middle, and end of an 8-consecutive hour period with one 

additional sample taken immediately following the peak capacity processing period. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.125 Visible floating solids: Type I devices. 

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During the sewage processing test (§159.121) 40 effluent samples of approximately 1 liter each shall be 

taken from a Type I device at the same time as samples taken in §159.123 and passed expeditiously 

through a U.S. Sieve No. 12 as specified in ASTM E 11 (incorporated by reference, see §159.4). The 

weight of the material retained on the screen after it has been dried to a constant weight in an oven at 

103 °C. must be divided by the volume of the sample and expressed as milligrams per liter. This value 

must be 10 percent or less of the total suspended solids as determined in accordance with 40 CFR Part 

136 or at least 38 of the 40 samples. 

Note: 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(3) prohibits discharge of harmful quantities of oil into or upon the 

navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines or into or upon the waters of the 

contiguous zone. Under 40 CFR 110.3 and 110.4 such discharges of oil include discharges 

which:

(a) Violate applicable water quality standards, or 

(b) Cause a film or sheen upon or discoloration of the surface of the water or adjoining 

shorelines or cause a sludge or emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or 

upon adjoining shorelines. If a sample contains a quantity of oil determined to be harmful, the 

Coast Guard will not certify the device. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976; 

USCG–1999–5151, 64 FR 67176, Dec. 1, 1999] 

§ 159.126 Coliform test: Type II devices. 

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(a) The arithmetic mean of the fecal coliform bacteria in 38 of 40 samples of effluent from a Type II 

device during the test described in §159.121 must be 200 per 100 milliliters or less when tested in 

accordance with 40 CFR Part 136. 

(b) The 40 samples must be taken from the device as follows: During each of the 10 test days, one 

sample must be taken at the beginning, middle and end of an 8-consecutive hour period with one 

additional sample taken immediately following the peak capacity processing period. 

[CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.126a Suspended solids test: Type II devices. 

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During the sewage processing test (§159.121) 40 effluent samples must be taken at the same time as 

samples are taken for §159.126 and they must be analyzed for total suspended solids in accordance 

with 40 CFR Part 136. The arithmetic mean of the total suspended solids in 38 of 40 of these samples 

must be less than or equal to 150 milligrams per liter. 

[CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.127 Safety coliform count: Recirculating devices. 

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Thirty-eight of forty samples of flush fluid from a recirculating device must have less than 240 fecal 

coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters. These samples must be collected in accordance with §159.123(b) 

and tested in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136. 

[CGD 73–83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75–213, 41 FR 15326, Apr. 12, 1976] 

§ 159.129 Safety: Ignition prevention test. 

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(a) Components of a device that are a potential ignition source in an explosive atmosphere must pass 

the test in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section or meet the requirements of paragraph (d) or have a 

specific warning in the instruction manual required by §159.57 that the device should not be installed in 

an explosive atmosphere. 

(b) Components protected by vapor exclusion must be placed in a chamber filled with a rich mixture of 

gasoline or propane in air with the pressure being varied from 0 to 2 psig once an hour for 8 hours. 

Vapor readings must be taken in the void being protected and must indicate a leakage less than 20 

percent of the lower explosive limit of the mixture in the chamber. 

(c) Components providing ignition protection by means other than vapor exclusion must be fitted with an 

ignition source, such as a spark plug, and a means of injecting an explosive mixture of gasoline or 

propane and air into the void that protects the component. Connections must be made so as to minimize 

any additional volume added to the protected void by the apparatus delivering the explosive mixture. 

The component must be placed in a chamber filled with an explosive mixture and there must be no 

ignition of the explosive mixture surrounding the component when the following tests are conducted: 

(1) Using any overload protection that is part of the device, the potential ignition source must be 

operated for one half hour at 110 percent of its rated voltage, one half hour at 50 percent of its rated 

voltage and one half hour at 100 percent of its rated voltage with the motor or armature locked, if the 

potential ignition source is a motor or part of a motor's electrical circuit. 

(2) With the explosive mixture in the protected void, the test installed ignition source must be activated 

50 times. 

(3) The tests paragraphs (c) (1) and (2) of this section must be repeated with any plugs removed. 

(d) Components that are certified as being intrinsically safe in accordance with the Instrument Society of 

America (RP 12.2) or explosion proof in accordance with the Underwriters Laboratories STD 698 in 

Class I, Group D hazardous locations (46 CFR 111.80–5(a)) need not be subjected to this testing. 

§ 159.131 Safety: Incinerating device. 

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An incinerating device must not incinerate unless the combustion chamber is closed, must purge the 

combustion chamber of combustible fuel vapors before and after incineration must secure automatically 

if the burner does not ignite, must not allow an accumulation of fuel, and must neither produce a 

temperature on surfaces adjacent to the incineration chamber higher than 67 °C nor produce a 

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temperature on surfaces in normal body contact higher than 41 °C when operating in an ambient 

temperature of 25 °C. Unitized incineration devices must completely burn to a dry, inert ash, a 

simultaneous defecation and urination and must not discharge fly ash, malodors, or toxic substances. 

Subpart D—Recognition of Facilities 

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§ 159.201 Recognition of facilities. 

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A recognized facility is an independent laboratory accepted by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR 159.010 

to perform the tests and inspections required under this part. A list of accepted laboratories is available 

from the Commandant (CG–5213). 

[CGD 95–028, 62 FR 51194, Sept. 30, 1997, as amended by USCG–1999–5832, 64 FR 34715, June 

29, 1999; USCG–2008–0179, 73 FR 35016, June 19, 2008] 

Subpart E—Discharge of Effluents in Certain Alaskan Waters by Cruise Vessel 

Operations 

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Source: 66 FR 38930, July 26, 2001, unless otherwise noted. 

§ 159.301 Purpose. 

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The purpose of this subpart is to implement “Title XIV—Certain Alaskan Cruise Ship Operations” 

contained in section 1(a)(4) of Pub. L. 106–554, enacted on December 21, 2000, by prescribing 

regulations governing the discharges of sewage and graywater from cruise vessels, require sampling 

and testing of sewage and graywater discharges, and establish reporting and record keeping 

requirements. 

§ 159.303 Applicability. 

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This subpart applies to each cruise vessel authorized to carry 500 or more passengers operating in the 

waters of the Alexander Archipelago and the navigable waters of the United States within the State of 

Alaska and within the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. 

§ 159.305 Definitions. 

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In this subpart: 

Administrator —means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 

Applicable Waters of Alaska —means the waters of the Alexander Archipelago and the navigable waters 

of the United States within the State of Alaska and within the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine 

Research Reserve. 

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Captain of the Port —means the Captain of the Port as defined in Subpart 3.85 of this chapter. 

Conventional Pollutants —means the list of pollutants listed in 40 CFR 401.16. 

Cruise Vessel —means a passenger vessel as defined in section 2101(22) of Title 46, United States 

Code. The term does not include a vessel of the United States operated by the federal government or a 

vessel owned and operated by the government of a State. 

Discharge —means a release, however caused, from a cruise vessel, and includes, any escape, 

disposal, spilling, leaking, pumping, emitting or emptying. 

Environmental Compliance Records —includes the Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book, all 

discharge reports, all discharge sampling test results, as well as any other records that must be kept 

under this subpart. 

Graywater —means only galley, dishwasher, bath, and laundry waste water. The term does not include 

other wastes or waste streams. 

Navigable Waters —has the same meaning as in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 

as amended. 

Person —means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, state, 

municipality, commission or political subdivision of a state, or any federally recognized Indian tribal 

government. 

Priority Pollutant —means the list of toxic pollutants listed in 40 CFR 401.15. 

Sewage —means human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to 

receive or retain body waste. 

Treated Sewage —means sewage meeting all applicable effluent limitation standards and processing 

requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended and of Title XIV of Public Law 

106–554 “Certain Alaskan Cruise Ship Operations”, and regulations promulgated under either. 

Untreated Sewage —means sewage that is not treated sewage. 

Waters Of The Alexander Archipelago —means all waters under the sovereignty of the United States 

within or near Southeast Alaska as follows: 

(1) Beginning at a point 58° 11–44 N, 136° 39–25 W [near Cape Spencer Light], thence southeasterly 

along a line three nautical miles seaward of the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is 

measured in the Pacific Ocean and the Dixon Entrance, except where this line intersects geodesics 

connecting the following five pairs of points: 

58° 05–17 N, 136° 33–49 W and 58° 11–41 N, 136° 39–25 W [Cross Sound] 

56° 09–40 N, 134° 40–00 W and 55° 49–15 N, 134° 17–40 W [Chatham Strait] 

55° 49–15 N, 134° 17–40 W and 55° 50–30 N, 133° 54–15 W [Sumner Strait] 

54° 41–30 N, 132° 01–00 W and 54° 51–30 N, 131° 20–45 W [Clarence Strait] 

54° 51–30 N, 131° 20–45 W and 54° 46–15 N, 130° 52–00 W [Revillagigedo Channel] 

(2) The portion of each such geodesic in paragraph (1) of this definition situated beyond 3 nautical miles 

from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial seas is measured from the outer limit of the 

waters of the Alexander Archipelago in those five locations. 

§ 159.307 Untreated sewage. 

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No person shall discharge any untreated sewage from a cruise vessel into the applicable waters of 

Alaska. 

§ 159.309 Limitations on discharge of treated sewage or graywater. 

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(a) No person shall discharge treated sewage or graywater from a cruise vessel into the applicable 

waters of Alaska unless: 

(1) The cruise vessel is underway and proceeding at a speed of not less than six knots; 

(2) The cruise vessel is not less than one nautical mile from the nearest shore, except in areas 

designated by the Coast Guard in consultation with the State of Alaska; 

(3) The discharge complies with all applicable cruise vessel effluent standards established pursuant to 

Pub. L. 106–554 and any other applicable law, and 

(4) The cruise vessel is not in an area where the discharge of treated sewage or graywater is prohibited. 

(b) Until such time as the Administrator promulgates regulations addressing effluent quality standards for 

cruise vessels operating in the applicable waters of Alaska, treated sewage and graywater may be 

discharged from vessels in circumstances otherwise prohibited under paragraph (a)(1) and (2) of this 

section provided that: 

(1) Notification to the Captain of the Port (COTP) is made not less than 30 days prior to the planned 

discharge, and such notice includes results of tests showing compliance with this section; 

(2) The discharge satisfies the minimum level of effluent quality specified in 40 CFR 133.102; 

(3) The geometric mean of the samples from the discharge during any 30-day period does not exceed 

20 fecal coliform/100 milliliters (ml) and not more than 10 percent of the samples exceed 40 fecal 

coliform/100 ml; 

(4) Concentrations of total residual chlorine do not exceed 10.0 micrograms per liter (μgm/l); 

(5) Prior to any such discharge occurring, the owner, operator or master, or other person in charge of a 

cruise vessel, can demonstrate to the COTP that test results from at least five samples taken from the 

vessel representative of the effluent to be discharged, on different days over a 30-day period, conducted 

in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator in 40 CFR part 136, which confirm 

that the water quality of the effluents proposed for discharge is in compliance with paragraphs (b)(2), (3) 

and (4) of this section; and 

(6) To the extent not otherwise being done by the owner, operator, master or other person in charge of a 

cruise vessel, pursuant to §159.317 of this subpart, the owner, operator, master or other person in 

charge of a cruise vessel shall demonstrate continued compliance through sampling and testing for 

conventional pollutants and residual chlorine of all treated sewage and graywater effluents periodically 

as determined by the COTP. 

[66 FR 38930, July 26, 2001, as amended at USCG–2005–21531, 70 FR 36350, June 23, 2005] 

§ 159.311 Safety exception. 

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The regulations in this subpart shall not apply to discharges made for the purpose of securing the safety 

of the cruise vessel or saving life at sea, provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken for 

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the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge. 

§ 159.313 Inspection for compliance and enforcement. 

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(a) Cruise vessels operating within the applicable waters of Alaska are subject to inspection by the 

Coast Guard to ensure compliance with this subpart. 

(b) An inspection under this section shall include an examination of the Sewage and Graywater 

Discharge Record Book required under §159.315 of this subpart, environmental compliance records, 

and a general examination of the vessel. A copy of any entry in the Sewage and Graywater Discharge 

Record Book may be made and the Master of the vessel may be required to certify that the copy is a 

true copy of the original entry. 

(c) A vessel not in compliance with this subpart may be subject to the penalties set out in §159.321, 

denied entry into the applicable waters of Alaska, detained, or restricted in its operations by order of the 

COTP. 

§ 159.315 Sewage and graywater discharge record book. 

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(a) While operating in the applicable waters of Alaska each cruise vessel shall maintain, in English, a 

legible Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book with the vessel's name and official number listed 

on the front cover and at the top of each page. 

(b) Entries shall be made in the Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book whenever any of the 

following is released into the applicable waters of Alaska: 

(1) Treated or untreated sewage; 

(2) Graywater; or 

(3) Sewage and graywater mixture. 

(c) Each entry in the Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book shall, at a minimum, contain the 

following information: 

(1) Name and location of each discharge port within the ship; 

(2) Date the start of discharge occurred; 

(3) Whether the effluent is treated or untreated sewage, graywater, or a sewage and graywater mixture 

and type of treatment used; 

(4) Time discharge port is opened; 

(5) Vessel's latitude and longitude at the time the discharge port is opened; 

(6) Volume discharged in cubic meters; 

(7) Flow rate of discharge in liters per minute; 

(8) Time discharge port is secured; 

(9) Vessel's latitude and longitude at the time the discharge port is secured; and 

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(10) Vessel's minimum speed during discharge. 

(d) In the event of an emergency, accidental or other exceptional discharge of sewage or graywater, a 

statement shall be made in the Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book of the circumstances 

and reasons for the discharge and an immediate notification of the discharge shall be made to the 

COTP. 

(e) Each entry of a discharge shall be recorded without delay and signed and dated by the person or 

persons in charge of the discharge concerned and each completed page shall be signed and dated by 

the master or other person having charge of the ship. 

(f) The Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book shall be kept in such a place as to be readily 

available for inspection at all reasonable times and shall be kept on board the ship. 

(g) The master or other person having charge of a ship required to keep a Sewage and Graywater 

Discharge Record Book shall be responsible for the maintenance of such record. 

(h) The Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book shall be maintained on board for not less than 

three years. 

§ 159.317 Sampling and reporting. 

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(a) The owner, operator, master or other person in charge of a cruise vessel that discharges treated 

sewage and/or graywater in the applicable waters of Alaska shall; 

(1) Not less than 90 days prior to each vessel's initial entry into the applicable waters of Alaska during 

any calendar year, provide to the COTP certification of participation under a Quality Assurance/Quality 

Control Plan (QA/QCP) accepted by the COTP for sampling and analysis of treated sewage and/or 

graywater for the current operating season; 

(2) Not less than 30 days nor more than 120 days prior to each vessel's initial entry into the applicable 

waters of Alaska during any calendar year, provide a certification to the COTP that the vessel's treated 

sewage and graywater effluents meet the minimum standards established by the Administrator, or in the 

absence of such standards, meet the minimum established in §159.319 of this subpart; 

(3) Within 30 days of each vessel's initial entry into the applicable waters of Alaska during any calendar 

year, provide to the COTP a Vessel Specific Sampling Plan (VSSP) for review and acceptance, and 

undergo sampling and testing for conventional pollutants of all treated sewage and graywater effluents 

as directed by the COTP; 

(4) While operating in the applicable waters of Alaska be subject to unannounced sampling of treated 

sewage and graywater discharge effluents, or combined treated sewage/graywater discharge effluents 

for the purpose of testing for a limited suite, as determined by the Coast Guard, of priority pollutants; 

(5) While operating in the applicable waters of Alaska be subject to additional random sampling events, 

in addition to all other required sampling, of some or all treated sewage and graywater discharge 

effluents for conventional and/or priority pollutant testing as directed by the COTP; 

(6) Ensure all samples, as required by this section, are collected and tested by a laboratory accepted by 

the Coast Guard for the testing of conventional and priority pollutants, as defined by this subpart, and in 

accordance with the cruise vessel's Coast Guard accepted QA/QCP and VSSP; 

(7) Pay all costs associated with development of an acceptable QA/QCP and VSSP, sampling and 

testing of effluents, reporting of results, and any additional environmental record keeping as required by 

this subpart, not to include cost of federal regulatory oversight. 

(b) A QA/QCP must, at a minimum include: 

(1) Sampling techniques and equipment, sampling preservation methods and holding times, and 

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transportation protocols, including chain of custody; 

(2) Laboratory analytical information including methods used, calibration, detection limits, and the 

laboratory's internal QA/QC procedures; 

(3) Quality assurance audits used to determine the effectiveness of the QA program; and 

(4) Procedures and deliverables for data validation used to assess data precision and accuracy, the 

representative nature of the samples drawn, comparability, and completeness of measure parameters. 

(c) A VSSP is a working document used during the sampling events required under this section and 

must, at a minimum, include: 

(1) Vessel name; 

(2) Passenger and crew capacity of the vessel; 

(3) Daily water use of the vessel; 

(4) Holding tank capacities for treated sewage and graywater; 

(5) Vessel schematic of discharge ports and corresponding sampling ports; 

(6) Description of discharges; and 

(7) A table documenting the type of discharge, type of sample drawn (grab or composite), parameters to 

test for (conventional or priority pollutants), vessel location when sample drawn, date and time of the 

sampling event. 

(d) Test results for conventional pollutants shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of the date the 

sample was collected, and for priority pollutants within 30 calendar days of the date the sample was 

collected, to the COTP directly by the laboratory conducting the testing and in accordance with the 

Coast Guard accepted QA/QCP. 

(e) Samples collected for analysis under this subpart shall be held by the laboratory contracted to do the 

analysis for not less than six months, or as directed by the COTP. 

(f) Reports required under this section may be written or electronic. If electronic, the reports must be in a 

format readable by Coast Guard and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation data systems. 

§ 159.319 Fecal coliform and total suspended solids standards. 

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(a) Treated sewage effluent discharges. Until such time as the Administrator promulgates effluent 

discharge standards for treated sewage, treated sewage effluent discharges in the applicable waters of 

Alaska shall not have a fecal coliform bacterial count of greater than 200 per 100 ml nor total suspended 

solids greater than 150 mg/l. 

(b) Graywater effluent discharges. [Reserved] 

§ 159.321 Enforcement. 

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(a) Administrative Penalties —(1) Violations. Any person who violates this subpart may be assessed a 

class I or class II civil penalty by the Secretary or his delegatee. 

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(2) Classes of penalties. (i) Class I. The amount of a class I civil penalty under this section may not 

exceed $10,000 per violation, except that the maximum amount of any class I civil penalty under this 

section shall not exceed $25,000. Before assessing a civil penalty under this subparagraph, the 

Secretary or his delegatee shall give to the person to be assessed such penalty written notice of the 

Secretary's proposal to assess the penalty and the opportunity to request, within 30 days of the date the 

notice is received by such person, a hearing on the proposed penalty. Such hearing shall not be subject 

to 5 U.S.C. 554 or 556, but shall provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present evidence. 

(ii) Class II. The amount of a class II civil penalty under this section may not exceed $10,000 per day for 

each day during which the violation continues, except that the maximum amount of any class II civil 

penalty under this section shall not exceed $125,000. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) of 

this section, a class II civil penalty shall be assessed and collected in the same manner, and subject to 

the same provisions as in the case of civil penalties assessed and collected after notice and an 

opportunity for hearing on the record in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554. Proceedings to assess a class II 

administrative civil penalty under this section will be governed by 33 CFR Part 20. 

(3) Rights of interested persons. (i) Public notice. Before issuing an order assessing a class II civil 

penalty under this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide public notice of and reasonable opportunity to 

comment on the proposed issuance of each order. 

(ii) Presentation of evidence. Any person who comments on a proposed assessment of a class II civil 

penalty under this section shall be given notice of any hearing held under paragraph (a) of this section, 

and of the order assessing such penalty. In any hearing held under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, such 

person shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard and present evidence. 

(iii) Rights of interested persons to a hearing. If no hearing is held under paragraph (a)(2) of this section 

before issuance of an order assessing a class II civil penalty under this section, any person who 

commented on the proposed assessment may petition, within 30 days after the issuance of such an 

order, the Secretary or his delegatee to set aside such order and provide a hearing on the penalty. If the 

evidence presented by the petitioner in support of the petition is material and was not considered in the 

issuance of the order, the Secretary, or his delegatee, shall immediately set aside such order and 

provide a hearing in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section. If the Secretary or his delegatee 

denies a hearing under this clause, the Secretary or his delegatee shall provide to the petitioner and 

publish in the Federal Register notice of and the reasons for such denial. 

(b) Civil judicial penalties —(1) Generally. Any person who violates this subpart shall be subject to a civil 

penalty not to exceed $25,000 per day for each violation. Each day a violation continues constitutes a 

separate violation. 

(2) Limitation. A person is not liable for a civil judicial penalty under this paragraph for a violation if the 

person has been assessed a civil administrative penalty under paragraph (a) of this section for the 

violation. 

(c) Determination of amount. In determining the amount of a civil penalty under paragraphs (a) or (b) of 

this section, the court or the Secretary or his delegatee shall consider the seriousness of the violation, 

any history of such violations, any good-faith efforts to comply with applicable requirements, the 

economic impact of the penalty on the violator, and other such matters as justice may require. 

(d) Criminal penalties —(1) Negligent violations. Any person who negligently violates this subpart 

commits a Class A misdemeanor. 

(2) Knowing violations. Any person who knowingly violates this subpart commits a Class D felony. 

(3) False statements. Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or 

certification in any record, report or other document filed or required to be maintained under this subpart, 

or who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any testing or monitoring device or 

method required to be maintained under this subpart commits a Class D felony. 

(e) Awards. (1) The Secretary or his delegatee or the court, when assessing any fines or civil penalties, 

as the case may be, may pay from any fines or civil penalties collected under this section an amount not 

to exceed one-half of the penalty or fine collected to any individual who furnished information which 

leads to the payment of the penalty or fine. If several individuals provide such information, the amount 

shall be divided equitably among such individuals. No officer or employee of the United States, the State 

of Alaska or any Federally recognized Tribe who furnishes information or renders service in the 

performance of his or her official duties shall be eligible for payment under this paragraph. 

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(2) The Secretary, his delegatee, or a court, when assessing any fines or civil penalties, as the case may 

be, may pay, from any fines or civil penalties collected under this section, to the State of Alaska or any 

Federally recognized Tribe providing information or investigative assistance which leads to payment of 

the penalty or fine, an amount which reflects the level of information or investigative assistance provided. 

Should the State of Alaska or a Federally recognized Tribe and an individual under paragraph (e)(1) of 

this section be eligible for an award, the Secretary, his delegatee, or the court, as the case may be, shall 

divide the amount equitably. 

(f) Liability in rem. A cruise vessel operated in violation of this subpart is liable in rem for any fine 

imposed under paragraph (c) of this section or for any civil penalty imposed under paragraphs (a) or (b) 

of this section, and may be proceeded against in the United States district court of any district in which 

the cruise vessel may be found. 

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