33 CFR 155.100: Applicability of oil pollution prevention rules to ships

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says which ships this part applies to. It covers ships operated under U.S. authority wherever located, and foreign-authority ships in U.S. navigable waters or at U.S. ports or terminals. Paragraph (b) lists exceptions, and paragraph (c) covers section 155.480 for certain tank vessels.

Applies toEach ship operated under U.S. authority, or under another country's authority while in U.S. navigable waters or at a U.S. port or terminal, subject to the exceptions.

What it says

  1. This part applies to each ship operated under the authority of the United States, wherever located, subject to the exceptions in paragraphs (b) and (c).

    33 CFR 155.100(a)(1)“Is operated under the authority of the United States, wherever located; or”

  2. This part applies to each ship operated under the authority of another country while it is in the navigable waters of the United States or at a port or terminal under U.S. jurisdiction.

    33 CFR 155.100(a)(2)“Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters of the United States, or while at a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the United States.”

  3. This part does not apply to a warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in non-commercial service.

    33 CFR 155.100(b)(1)“A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in non-commercial service; or”

  4. This part does not apply to any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL 73/78.

    33 CFR 155.100(b)(2)“Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL 73/78.”

  5. Section 155.480 applies to each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels) that is loading oil or oil reside as cargo and is operated under U.S. authority or under foreign authority in U.S. navigable waters or at U.S. ports or terminals.

    33 CFR 155.100(c)“Section 155.480 applies to each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels), loading oil or oil reside as cargo”

Common questions

Does 33 CFR part 155 apply to foreign ships in U.S. waters?

Yes, subject to the exceptions. It applies to a ship operated under another country's authority while in the navigable waters of the United States or at a U.S. port or terminal.

“Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters of the United States, or while at a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Do warships have to follow this part?

No. This part does not apply to a warship, naval auxiliary, or other country-owned or country-operated ship when engaged in non-commercial service.

“A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in non-commercial service; or”

Which tank vessels does section 155.480 apply to?

It applies to each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels) that is loading oil or oil reside as cargo, under the operating conditions stated in paragraph (c).

“Section 155.480 applies to each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels), loading oil or oil reside as cargo”

The text of 33 CFR 155.100

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Applicability

(a) Subject to the exceptions provided for in paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, this part applies to each ship that:

(1) Is operated under the authority of the United States, wherever located; or

(2) Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters of the United States, or while at a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the United States.

(b) This part does not apply to:

(1) A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in non-commercial service; or

(2) Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL 73/78.

(c) Section 155.480 applies to each tank vessel with a cargo capacity of 1,000 or more cubic meters (approximately 6,290 barrels), loading oil or oil reside as cargo that is operated under the authority of the United States, wherever located, or operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters of the United States, or while at a port or terminal under the jurisdiction of the United States.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.