{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-13.121","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 13.121","heading":"Courses for tank vessel endorsements.","body":"(a) This section prescribes the requirements, beyond those in §§ 10.302 and 10.304 of this subchapter, applicable to schools offering courses required for a tank vessel endorsement and courses that are a substitute for experience with transfers of liquid cargo in bulk required for the endorsement.\n(b) A course that uses simulated transfers to train students in loading and discharging tank vessels may replace up to two loadings and two discharges, one commencement and one completion of loading, and one commencement and one completion of discharge required for a Tank Vessel-PIC or Tank Barge-PIC endorsement. The request for approval of the course must specify those segments of a transfer that the course will simulate. The letter from the Coast Guard approving the course will state the number and kind of segments that the course will replace.\n(c) The Liquid Cargo course required for an endorsement as—\n(1) Tank Vessel-PIC DL is Tankship: Dangerous Liquids;\n(2) Tank Barge-PIC DL is Tank Barge: Dangerous Liquids;\n(3) Tank Vessel-PIC LG is Tankship: Liquefied Gases;\n(4) Tank barge-PIC LG is Tank Barge: Liquefied Gases;\n(5) Tank Vessel-Assistant DL is Tankship: Familiarization (Dangerous Liquids);\n(6) Tank Vessel-Assistant LG is Tankship: Familiarization (Liquefied Gases);\n(7) Tank Vessel-Engineer DL is Tankship: Dangerous Liquids; and\n(8) Tank Vessel-Engineer LG is Tankship: Liquefied Gases.\n(d) The firefighting course required for an endorsement as—\n(1) Tank Barge-PIC is Tank Barge: Firefighting or Basic Firefighting; and\n(2) Tank Vessel-PIC, Tank Vessel-Assistant, and Tank Vessel-Engineer is basic firefighting.\n(e) The Coast Guard will evaluate and approve the curricula of courses to ensure adequate coverage of the required subjects. Training may employ classroom instruction, demonstrations, or simulated or actual operations.\n(1) The course curricula for Tankship Familiarization must consist of the topics identified in table 1 to § 13.121(e).\n(2) The course curricula for Tank Vessel-PIC, Tank Barge-PIC, and Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsements must consist of the topics identified in table 2 to § 13.121(e).\n(3) The course curricula for firefighting courses must consist of the topics identified in table 3 to § 13.121(e).\nTable 1 to § 13.121(e)\nTankship familiarization topics 1 2\nBasic knowledge of tankers:\nTypes of oil and chemical vessels or liquefied gas tanker vessels X X\nGeneral arrangement and construction X X\nBasic knowledge of cargo operations:\nPiping systems and valves X X\nCargo pumps and cargo handling equipment X X\nLoading and unloading and care in transit X X\nTank cleaning, purging, gas-freeing and inerting X X\nBasic knowledge of the physical properties of oil and chemicals:\nPressure and temperature, including vapor pressure/temperature relationship X\nTypes of electrostatic charge generation X\nchemical symbols X\nBasic knowledge of the physical properties of liquefied gases, including:\nProperties and characteristics X\nPressure and temperature, including vapor pressure/temperature relationship X\nTypes of electrostatic charge generation X\nChemical symbols X\nKnowledge and understanding of tanker safety culture and safety management X X\nBasic knowledge of the hazards associated with tanker operations, including:\nHealth hazards X X\nEnvironmental hazards X X\nReactivity hazards X X\nCorrosion hazards X X\nExplosion and flammability hazards X X\nSources of ignition X X\nElectrostatic hazards X X\nToxicity hazards X X\nVapor leaks and clouds X X\nExtremely low temperatures X\nPressure hazards X\nBasic knowledge of hazard controls:\nInerting, water padding, drying agents and monitoring techniques X X\nAnti-static measures X X\nVentilation X X\nSegregation X X\nCargo inhibition X X\nImportance of cargo compatibility X X\nAtmospheric control X X\nGas testing X X\nUnderstanding of information on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) X X\nFunction and proper use of gas-measuring instruments and similar equipment X X\nProper use of safety equipment and protective devices, including:\nBreathing apparatus and tank-evacuating equipment X X\nProtective clothing and equipment X X\nResuscitators X X\nRescue and escape equipment X X\nBasic knowledge of safe working practices and procedures in accordance with legislation and industry guidelines and personal shipboard safety relevant to oil and chemical tankers, including:\nPrecautions to be taken when entering enclosed spaces X X\nPrecautions to be taken before and during repair and maintenance work X X\nSafety measures for hot and cold work X X\nElectrical safety X X\nShip/shore safety checklist X X\nBasic knowledge of first aid with reference to a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) X X\nBasic knowledge of emergency procedures, including emergency shutdown X X\nBasic knowledge of the effects of oil and chemical pollution on human and marine life X X\nBasic knowledge of shipboard procedures to prevent pollution X X\nBasic knowledge of measures to be taken in the event of spillage, including the need to:\nReport relevant information to the responsible persons X X\nAssist in implementing shipboard spill-containment procedures X X\nprevent brittle fracture X\nColumn 1—Tankship Familiarization (Dangerous Liquids).\nColumn 2—Tankship Familiarization (Liquefied Gases).\nTable 2 to § 13.121(e)\nTankship and tank barge course topics 1 2 3 4\nGeneral characteristics, compatibility, reaction, firefighting procedures, and safety precautions for the cargoes of:\nBulk liquids defined as Dangerous Liquids in 46 CFR Part 13 X X\nBulk liquefied gases \u0026 their vapors defined as Liquefied Gases in 46 CFR Part 13 X X\nKnowledge and understanding of the physical and chemical properties of oil and chemical cargoes X\nPhysical phenomena of liquefied gas, including:\nBasic concept X X\nCompression and expansion X X\nMechanism of heat transfer X X\nPotential hazards of liquefied gas, including:\nChemical and physical properties X X\nCombustion characteristics X X\nResults of gas release to the atmosphere X X\nHealth hazards (skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion) X X\nControl of flammability range with inert gas X X\nThermal stress in structure and piping of vessel X X\nCargo systems, including:\nPrinciples of containment systems X X X X\nConstruction, materials, coating, \u0026 insulation of cargo tanks X X\nGeneral arrangement of cargo tanks X X X X\nVenting and vapor-control systems X X X X\nCargo-handling systems, including:\nPiping systems, valves, pumps, and expansion systems X X X X\nOperating characteristics X X X X\nInstrumentation systems, including:\nCargo-level indicators X X X X\nGas-detecting systems X X X\nTemperature-monitoring systems, cargo X X X\nTemperature-monitoring systems, hull X X\nAutomatic-shutdown systems X X X\nAuxiliary systems, including:\nVentilation, inerting X X X X\nValves, including:\nQuick-closing X X X X\nRemote-control X X X X\nPneumatic X X X X\nExcess-flow X X X X\nSafety-relief X X X X\nPressure-vacuum X X X X\nHeating-systems: cofferdams \u0026 ballast tanks X X\nOperations connected with the loading and discharging of cargo, including:\nLining up the cargo and vapor-control systems X X X X\nPre-transfer inspections and completion of the Declaration of Inspection X X X X\nHooking up of cargo hose, loading arms, and grounding-strap X X X X\nStarting of liquid flow X X X X\nCalculation of loading rates X X\nDiscussion of loading X X X X\nBallasting and deballasting X X X X\nTopping off of the cargo tanks X X X X\nDiscussion of discharging X X X X\nStripping of the cargo tanks X X\nMonitoring of transfers X X X X\nGauging of cargo tanks X X X X\nDisconnecting of cargo hoses or loading arms X X X X\nCargo-tank-cleaning procedures and precautions X X\nSlop arrangements X\nShip-to-ship transfers X\nOperating procedures and sequence for:\nInerting of cargo tanks and void spaces X X X X\nCooldown and warmup of cargo tanks X X\nGas-freeing X X X X\nLoaded or ballasted voyages X X\nTesting of cargo-tank atmospheres for oxygen \u0026 cargo vapor X X X X\nStability and stress considerations connected with loading and discharging of cargo X X X X\nLoadline, draft, and trim X X X X\nDisposal of boil-off, including:\nSystem design X X\nSafety features X X\nStability-letter requirements X X\nEmergency procedures, including notice to appropriate authorities, for:\nFire X X X X\nCollision X X X X\nGrounding X X X X\nEquipment failure X X X X\nLeaks and spills X X X\nStructural failure X X X X\nEmergency discharge of cargo X X X X\nEntering cargo tanks X X X X\nEmergency shutdown of cargo-handling X X X X\nEmergency systems for closing cargo tanks X X\nRules \u0026 regulations (international and Federal, for all tank vessels) on conducting operations and preventing pollution X X X X\nPollution prevention, including:\nProcedures to prevent air and water pollution X X X X\nMeasures to take in event of spillage X X X X\nDanger from drift of vapor cloud X X X X\nEnvironmental protection equipment, including oil discharge monitoring equipment X\nTerminology for tankships carrying oil and chemicals X\nTerminology for tank barges carrying oil and chemicals X\nTerminology for tankships carrying liquefied gases X\nTerminology for tank barges carrying liquefied gases X\nPrinciples \u0026 procedures of crude-oil-washing (COW) systems, including:\nPurpose X\nEquipment and design X\nOperations X\nSafety precautions X\nMaintenance of plant and equipment X\nPrinciples \u0026 procedures of the inert-gas systems (IGSs), including:\nPurpose X X\nEquipment and design X X\nOperations X X\nSafety precautions X X\nMaintenance of plant and equipment X X\nPrinciples \u0026 procedures of vapor-control systems, including:\nPurpose X X X X\nPrinciples X X X X\nCoast Guard regulations X X X X\nHazards X X X X\nActive system components X X X X\nPassive system components X X X X\nOperating procedures, including:\nTesting and inspection requirements X X X X\nPre-transfer procedures X X X X\nConnecting sequence X X X X\nStart-up sequence X X X X\nNormal operations X X X X\nLoading and unloading plans X\nEmergency procedures X X X X\nCargo-hazard-information systems X X X X\nSafe entry into confined spaces, including:\nTesting tank atmospheres for oxygen \u0026 hydrocarbon vapors X X\nDefinition and hazards of confined spaces X X X X\nCargo tanks and pumprooms X X X X\nEvaluation and assessment of risks and hazards X X X X\nSafety precautions and procedures X X X X\nEnclosed space rescue X\nPersonnel protective equipment (PPE) and clothing X X X X\nMaintenance of PPE X X X X\nDangers of skin contact X X X X\nInhalation of vapors X X\nElectricity and static electricity—hazards and precautions X X X X\nEmergency procedures X X X X\nFederal regulations, national standards \u0026 industry guidelines X X X X\nInspections by marine chemists \u0026 competent persons, including hot-work permits \u0026 procedures X X X X\nVessel response plans:\nPurpose, content, and location of information X X X X\nProcedures for notice and mitigation of spills X X X X\nGeographic-specific appendices X X X X\nVessel-specific appendices X X X X\nEmergency-action checklist X X X X\nColumn 1—Tankship: Dangerous Liquids.\nColumn 2—Tank Barge: Dangerous Liquids.\nColumn 3—Tankship: Liquefied Gases.\nColumn 4—Tank Barge: Liquefied Gases.\nTable 3 to § 13.121(e)\nFirefighting course topics 1 2\nElements of fire (Fire triangle):\nFuel X X\nSource of ignition X X\nOxygen X X\nIgnition sources (general):\nChemical X\nBiological X\nPhysical X\nIgnition sources applicable to barges X\nDefinitions of flammability and combustibility:\nFlammability X X\nIgnition point X X\nBurning temperature X X\nBurning speed X\nThermal value X\nLower flammable limit X X\nUpper flammable limit X X\nFlammable range X X\nInerting X\nStatic electricity X X\nFlash point X X\nAuto-ignition X X\nSpread of fire:\nBy radiation X X\nBy convection X X\nBy conduction X X\nReactivity X X\nFire classifications and applicable extinguishing agents X X\nMain causes of fires:\nOil leakage X X\nSmoking X X\nOverheating pumps X X\nGalley appliances X\nSpontaneous ignition X X\nHot work X X\nElectrical apparatus X\nReaction, self-heating, and auto-ignition X\nFire prevention:\nGeneral X X\nFire hazards of DL and LG X X\nFire detection:\nFire- and smoke-detection systems X\nAutomatic fire alarms X\nFirefighting equipment:\nFire mains, hydrants X\nInternational shore-connection X\nSmothering-installations, carbon dioxide (CO2), foam * * * X\nPressure-water spray system in special-category spaces X\nAutomatic sprinkler system X\nEmergency fire pump, emergency generator X\nChemical-powder applicants X\nGeneral outline of required and mobile apparatus X\nBoiler Technician's outfit, personal equipment X\nBreathing apparatus X\nResuscitation apparatus X\nSmoke helmet or mask X\nFireproof life-line and harness X\nFire hose, nozzles, connections, and fire axes X\nFire blankets X\nPortable fire extinguishers X X\nLimitations of portable and semiportable extinguishers X X\nEmergency procedures:\nArrangements:\nEscape routes X X\nMeans of gas-freeing tanks X X\nClass A, B, and C divisions X\nInert-gas system X\nShip firefighting organization:\nGeneral alarms X\nFire-control plans, muster stations, and duties X\nCommunications X\nPeriodic shipboard drills X\nPatrol system X\nBasic firefighting techniques:\nSounding alarm X X\nLocating and isolating fires X X\nStopping leakage of cargo X X\nJettisoning X\nInhibiting X\nCooling X\nSmothering X\nSizing up situation X\nLocating information on cargo X\nExtinguishing X X\nExtinguishing with portable units X X\nSetting reflash watch X X\nUsing additional personnel X X\nFirefighting extinguishing-agents:\nWater (solid jet, spray, fog, and flooding) X\nFoam (high, medium and low expansion) X\nCarbon dioxide (CO2) X X\nAqueous-film-forming foam (AFFF) X\nDry chemicals X X\nUse of extinguisher on:\nFlammable and combustible liquids X X\nManifold-flange fire X X\nDrip-pan fire X X\nPump fire X X\nDrills for typical fires on barges X\nField exercises:\nExtinguish small fires using portable extinguishers:\nElectrical X X\nManifold-flange X X\nDrip-pan X X\nPump X X\nUse self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) X\nExtinguish extensive fires with water X\nExtinguish fires with foam, or chemical X\nFight fire in smoke-filled enclosed space wearing SCBA X\nExtinguish fire with water fog in an enclosed space with heavy smoke X\nExtinguish oil fire with fog applicator and spray nozzles, dry-chemical, or foam applicators X\nEffect a rescue in a smoke-filled space while wearing breathing apparatus X\nColumn 1—Tank Barge-PIC.\nColumn 2—Tank Vessel-PIC, Tank Vessel-Engineer, and Tank Vessel-Assistant.","path":["Title 46—Shipping","CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","SUBCHAPTER B—MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS AND SEAMEN","PART 13—CERTIFICATION OF TANK VESSEL PERSONNEL","Subpart A—General"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-46.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:22Z","sha256":"774738b5b88dff23d22da0ad727ef4bf5bc60428a76f948de633fdbd1fac57e3","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-13.120","next":"us/46-cfr-13.123"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}