As part of its Plan Review Guidelines, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center updated the C1-42 – “Oceangoing Tank Barge Cargo Authority”. The purpose of this PRG is to provide guidance regarding the submission of the Tank Group Characteristics Loading Form for Oceangoing Tank Barges to request the generation of a Cargo Authority Attachment (CAA).
Following the latest updates to the IBC Code, USCG published NVIC 03-06 which states that all oceangoing vessels carrying NLS and built after January 1, 2007 must comply with the IBC Code and US Regulations.
Vessels carrying NLS and built before January 1, 2007 must meet the IBC Code if they wish to continue trading internationally, however they may continue trading domestically under the requirements of 46 CFR 153 if they surrender all international certificates and do not pass through the waters of a foreign administration.
An Oceangoing Tank Barge Cargo Authority Attachment package shall be submitted 30 days prior to anticipated vessel voyage to ensure proper processing of the request. The package shall include:
- A formal email or letter with request details such as vessel name, vessel identification number, and vessel route:
–If the vessel’s route is rivers, lakes, bays, and sounds, this instruction does not apply. Refer to Process Review Guide C1-40 for Inland Tank Barge Cargo Authorities.
–If the vessel will carry liquefied gas cargoes, refer to Process Review Guide C1-41 for Gas Carrier Barge Cargo Authorities. - The appropriate Tank Group Characteristics Loading Form (TGCLF) for oceans routes. If the vessel is an Annex I Oil Barge, then no TGCLF is necessary. Ensure your formal email or letter specifies that your vessel is an Annex I Oil Barge if you are not submitting a TGCLF.
—Note: To carry any NLS cargoes internationally, the vessel will also need a vessel specific Procedures and Arrangements Manual. If the Procedures and Arrangements Manual will be submitted to the MSC, please refer to PRG C1-44. - If the vessel is reviewed and certificated to carry NLS and classed by ABS, you must submit the ABS stability letter.
The MSC does not typically edit CAAs for discrepancies in vessel information. The MSC will, upon request of the owner, remove cargoes that require shortened inspection intervals. The owner/operator is required to request an update to a vessel’s CAA from the MSC when there is a physical change to the vessel or erroneous information previously provided that would change the cargoes it can carry.
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