Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 140 - Waste and Materials Management › Subchapter 25 - Oil and Underground Tanks › Part 2 - Oil Pollution Control Regulations (250-RICR-140-25-2) › Section 250-RICR-140-25-2.7 - Oil and Waste Transfers

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The owner and
				  operator of an oil carrying vessel and the owner and operator of a terminal
				  shall take the following precautions prior to and during the transfer of oil
				  and wastes:
1. Any flexible hose used in the
				  transfer shall be tested at a pressure in excess of that to which it will be
				  subjected in use, and such test shall be conducted annually.
2. Drip pans shall be placed under hose
				  connections on the oil carrying vessel, and drip pans and a tight wharf or pier
				  section enclosed by a curb raised to not less than four inches (4") above the
				  deck level is provided under the hose connections on the wharf or pier. Drip
				  pans must be in place before tight blank, as provided in §
											2.7(A)(6) 
				  of this Part, is removed and they must remain in place until the blank is
				  replaced and the hose is moved. This Rule shall not prevent the installation of
				  a drain to a tight curbed wharf or pier section for the removal of storm water,
				  provided the drain is tightly closed during any oil or waste transfer and no
				  oil or waste contaminated drainage from the tight section is discharged into
				  the waters of the State when the drain is open.
3. Hoses shall be supported so as not to
				  become crushed between the oil carrying vessel at the wharf or pier and to
				  prevent undue strain on the hoses and manifolds caused by sharp bends in the
				  hoses.
4. Hoses shall be long
				  enough so that they will not be strained by any movement of the oil carrying
				  vessel if the vessel's mooring lines are adequately tended.
5. Mooring lines shall be tended frequently
				  to prevent excessive movement of the oil carrying vessel at the wharf or
				  pier.
6. Hose ends shall be blanked
				  tightly when hoses are moved into position to be connected, and also
				  immediately after they are disconnected, before they are moved away from their
				  connections.
7. Throughout the
				  transfer operation, a person shall be stationed on the deck of the oil carrying
				  vessel in site of the hose and its connections, and another person shall be
				  stationed on shore in sight of the hose and its shore connection. Other trained
				  personnel, as necessary, shall be on duty so as to insure immediate action in
				  case of a malfunction.
8. The
				  scuppers on the oil carrying vessel shall be plugged watertight during the oil
				  transfer or ballasting operation.
9. If the transfer is to take place after
				  sunset and before sunrise, the decks and wharf or pier area, as well as the
				  water area between the vessel and the wharf, shall be brightly illuminated and
				  emergency auxiliary lighting and generating equipment shall be readily
				  available.
10. All sea valves
				  connected to the cargo piping, stern discharge, and ballast discharge valves
				  shall be closed and sealed with a numbered seal.
11. All hose riser valves not to be used
				  shall be closed and blank flanged, and all air valves on headers shall be
				  closed.
12. Means of communication
				  between the oil carrying vessel and shore shall be checked and all signals
				  between the vessel and shore thoroughly understood.
13. Loading shall be started at a slow rate
				  and an inspection made of the oil carrying vessel's tanks to determine that all
				  is going according to plan before loading is increased to desired
				  rate.
14. No more tanks shall be
				  loaded at one time than can be safely watched and controlled.
15. Special attention shall be paid during
				  the topping-off process to the loading rate, the number of tanks open, the
				  danger of air pockets, and the inspection of tanks already loading.
16. To allow time for orderly control, the
				  slow down for topping-off shall be anticipated and notice given to shore
				  personnel.
17. Water around the oil
				  carrying vessel's side shall be inspected frequently, especially in the area of
				  the seacocks, to ensure that no oil is escaping overboard.
18. Upon completion of loading, all tank
				  valves and loading valves shall be closed. After draining, hoses shall be
				  disconnected and hose risers blanked.
19. Lines and valves in the pump rooms and on
				  deck shall be checked by the ship's master or senior deck officer to see that
				  they are properly set for discharging cargo. An additional check shall be made
				  for the same purpose each time the setting is changed.
20. A check valve to prevent backflow shall
				  be located in the discharge line of each oil cargo pump of a centrifugal type;
				  the check valve shall be located at a point in the discharge line ahead of any
				  connection the line makes with the discharge line from any other cargo pump on
				  the vessel.
21. A copy of the
				  "Declaration of Inspection", required by the United States Coast Guard pursuant
				  to 33 C.F.R. §
												156.150 (2018), shall be handed to the
				  terminal superintendent or his representative, who shall, on demand, be given
				  the opportunity to satisfy himself that the condition of the oil carrying
				  vessel is as stated in the "Declaration of Inspection."
22. The terminal shall have readily available
				  essential equipment to contain and remove any oil spillage, and have personnel
				  available on a twenty-four (24) hour emergency basis who are familiar with such
				  salvage or cleanup operations.
23.
				  The owner/operator shall meet all sample collection requirements of the Coastal
				  Resources Management Council.
24.
				  The owner/operator shall obtain a permit, as required by the Coastal Resources
				  Management Council, and comply with all permit terms and conditions.
25. No oil carrying vessel, while at anchor,
				  shall transfer oil while gale warnings (wind velocity thirty-five (35) knots or
				  more) are in effect.
26.
				  Vessel-to-vessel transfers may be carried on at the dock with prior
				  notification and approval of the United States Coast Guard. Offshore transfers
				  may only be conducted in anchorage areas designated by the Coastal Resources
				  Management Council, except for the transfer of fuel for a vessel's own use.
				  Prior to conducting any vessel-to-vessel transfer the owner or operator of such
				  vessels shall notify DEM of the date, time, and volume of such transfer and
				  shall contract for emergency, stand-by cleanup services. The Director of DEM
				  may, on an emergency basis, further restrict such vessel-to-vessel transfers
				  and require that such transfers be limited to onshore terminal
				  facilities.
27. If two (2) or more
				  cargo pumps discharge into a common line on the vessel or on the shore,
				  assurance shall be made that a check valve, in good working order, is in each
				  line to prevent backflow of cargo in the event that one (1) pump
				  stops.
28. In all other respects,
				  conform to applicable Coast Guard Regulations.