33 CFR 155.240: Damage stability information for oil tankers and barges
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges to arrange prompt access to computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural strength programs. The vessel's baseline data must be pre-entered, access must be available 24 hours a day, and the program must be able to run specific calculations.
Applies toOwners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges.
What it says
Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges must ensure their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural strength calculation programs.
33 CFR 155.240(a)“Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges shall ensure that their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural strength calculation programs.”
The vessel's baseline strength and stability characteristics must be pre-entered into the programs and must be consistent with the vessel's existing configuration.
33 CFR 155.240(b)“Vessel baseline strength and stability characteristics must be pre-entered into such programs and be consistent with the vessel's existing configuration.”
Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 24 hours a day.
33 CFR 155.240(c)“Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 24 hours a day.”
At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of residual hull girder strength based on the reported extent of damage.
33 CFR 155.240(d)(1)“Residual hull girder strength based on the reported extent of damage.”
At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of residual stability when the vessel's compartments are breached.
33 CFR 155.240(d)(2)“Residual stability when the vessel's compartments are breached.”
At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of the most favorable off-loading, ballasting, or cargo transfer sequences to improve residual stability, reduce hull girder stresses, and reduce ground-force reaction.
33 CFR 155.240(d)(3)“The most favorable off-loading, ballasting, or cargo transfer sequences to improve residual stability, reduce hull girder stresses, and reduce ground-force reaction.”
At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of the bending and shear stresses caused by pinnacle loads from grounding or stranding.
33 CFR 155.240(d)(4)“The bending and shear stresses caused by pinnacle loads from grounding or stranding.”
Common questions
How often must access to the damage stability program be available?
Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 24 hours a day.
“Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 24 hours a day.”
Who must arrange access to damage stability calculation programs?
Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges must ensure their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to these programs.
“Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges shall ensure that their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural strength calculation programs.”
What vessel data must be entered in the damage stability program?
The vessel's baseline strength and stability characteristics must be pre-entered. They must be consistent with the vessel's existing configuration.
“Vessel baseline strength and stability characteristics must be pre-entered into such programs and be consistent with the vessel's existing configuration.”
The text of 33 CFR 155.240
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Damage stability information for oil tankers and offshore oil barges
(a) Owners or operators of oil tankers and offshore oil barges shall ensure that their vessels have prearranged, prompt access to computerized, shore-based damage stability and residual structural strength calculation programs.
(b) Vessel baseline strength and stability characteristics must be pre-entered into such programs and be consistent with the vessel's existing configuration.
(c) Access to the shore-based calculation program must be available 24 hours a day.
(d) At a minimum, the program must facilitate calculation of the following:
(1) Residual hull girder strength based on the reported extent of damage.
(2) Residual stability when the vessel's compartments are breached.
(3) The most favorable off-loading, ballasting, or cargo transfer sequences to improve residual stability, reduce hull girder stresses, and reduce ground-force reaction.
(4) The bending and shear stresses caused by pinnacle loads from grounding or stranding.
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.