33 CFR 155.215: Spill removal equipment on inland oil barges

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section requires inland oil barges to have spill control and removal equipment ready during cargo transfer operations. It lists the equipment and supplies needed. It also lets the owner or operator rely on a transfer facility's equipment if prearranged.

Applies toInland oil barges during cargo transfer operations, and their owners or operators.

What it says

  1. During cargo transfer operations, inland oil barges must have appropriate equipment and supplies ready for immediate use to control and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.

    33 CFR 155.215(a)“During cargo transfer operations, inland oil barges must have appropriate equipment and supplies ready for immediate use to control and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.”

  2. The required equipment and supplies must include sorbents.

    33 CFR 155.215(b)“The equipment and supplies must include—”

  3. The equipment and supplies must include non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets.

    33 CFR 155.215(b)(2)“Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;”

  4. The equipment and supplies must include containers suitable for holding recovered waste.

    33 CFR 155.215(b)(3)“Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;”

  5. The equipment and supplies must include emulsifiers for deck cleaning and protective clothing.

    33 CFR 155.215(b)(4)“Emulsifiers for deck cleaning; and”

  6. The oil barge owner or operator may rely on equipment at the transfer facility receiving from or discharging to the barge, if the owner or operator has prearranged its use by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard.

    33 CFR 155.215(c)“The oil barge owner or operator may rely on equipment available at the transfer facility receiving from or discharging to the barge”

Common questions

When must inland oil barges have spill removal equipment ready?

Inland oil barges must have the equipment and supplies ready for immediate use during cargo transfer operations.

“During cargo transfer operations, inland oil barges must have appropriate equipment and supplies ready for immediate use”

What spill size does the equipment requirement cover?

The equipment must be able to control and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.

“to control and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.”

Can an inland oil barge use the transfer facility's equipment?

Yes, if the owner or operator has prearranged the use of the equipment by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard.

“provided the barge owner or operator has prearranged for the use of the equipment by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard.”

The text of 33 CFR 155.215

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

Discharge removal equipment for inland oil barges

(a) During cargo transfer operations, inland oil barges must have appropriate equipment and supplies ready for immediate use to control and remove on-deck oil cargo spills of at least one barrel.

(b) The equipment and supplies must include—

(1) Sorbents;

(2) Non-sparking hand scoops, shovels, and buckets;

(3) Containers suitable for holding recovered waste;

(4) Emulsifiers for deck cleaning; and

(5) Protective clothing.

(c) The oil barge owner or operator may rely on equipment available at the transfer facility receiving from or discharging to the barge, provided the barge owner or operator has prearranged for the use of the equipment by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard.

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.