California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 4 - Office of Spill Prevention and Response › Chapter 4 - Vessel Requirements › Subchapter 1 - Tank Vessel Escort Program for the San Francisco Bay Region › Article 1 › Section 851.6 - Clearing House Responsibilities

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) The Administrator shall establish a
						Clearing House which shall be responsible for performing escort compliance and
						monitoring duties, to include the following:
(1) monitor, verify, and record the braking
						force of each escort tug that will be used to comply with this
						subchapter;
(2) ensure that the
						braking force measurement is certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
						or by any member in the International Association of Classification Societies;
(A) the braking force measurement shall be
						monitored by the Clearing House for those escort tugs that are tested in the
						San Francisco Bay region;
(B)
						escort tugs may be tested in another port if the braking force measurement is
						conducted in a manner consistent with the ABS (or equivalent) standards as used
						by the Clearing House. The tug owner/operator shall register such measurement
						with the Clearing House, and shall provide verification that the measurement
						complies with the ABS (or equivalent) standards.
(3) maintain and publish a register which
						lists the following for each escort tug whose braking force is measured under
						this section:
(A) the tug's name;
(B) the tug operator;
(C) the length of the tug;
(D) for tractor tugs, bollard pull ahead or
						astern, or the braking force determined by an alternate compliance model
						developed in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter;
(E) for conventional tugs, bollard pull
						astern;
(F) type and configuration
						of the propulsion system;
(G) type
						and configuration of the steering system.
(4) receive notification of a tank vessel's
						arrival and/or movement as required under Section
						851.7;
(5) receive notification of the displacement
						of a tanker, and the tug(s) chosen for an escorted transit. The Clearing House
						shall use this reported information to determine if the tanker is correctly
						matched to the escort tug(s) as required in this subchapter, and shall
						immediately report to the Administrator when such a match has not been done
						correctly. The verification shall be made prior to the tanker's arrival and/or
						movement. The Clearing House shall also be responsible for verifying the tug
						vessel's stability when these tugs are operating westward of the Golden Gate
						Bridge as specified in Section
						851.8(f);
(6) receive notification of the deadweight
						tonnage of a barge and the tug(s) that have been chosen for the escorted
						transit. The Clearing House shall use this reported information to determine if
						the barge is correctly matched to the escort tug(s) as required in this
						subchapter, and shall immediately report to the Administrator if the match has
						not been done correctly. The verification shall be made prior to the arrival
						and/or movement of the barge;
(7)
						maintain copies of blank Checklists for distribution upon request to tank
						vessel owner/operators, masters and/or pilots;
(8) receive notification of the completion of
						an Escort Plan, or the completion and adequacy of a Checklist, and report to
						the Administrator when a pilot makes a determination that a Checklist is not
						adequate;
(9) maintain copies of
						the completed Checklists submitted by the tank vessel owner/operator or
						masters. Copies must be kept for a period of 3 years from the date of the
						transit covered by the Checklist. A copy of any Checklist shall be made
						available to the Administrator upon request;
(10) receive reports from tug owners,
						operators or agents of any tug casualty that occurs during an escorted transit,
						and develop and maintain a database of all such casualty reports;
(11) monitor compliance with the requirements
						of this subchapter and report all violations to both the Office of Spill
						Prevention and Response and the Harbor Safety Committee for the San Francisco
						Bay Region.