33 CFR 155.5010: Purpose of nontank vessel response plans
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section states the purpose of the subpart: to set requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels. The planning criteria help develop plans and identify resources for a worst case discharge or substantial threat of one. The criteria for response resources and arrival times are not performance standards.
Applies toNontank vessels, which are the vessels this subpart addresses for oil spill response plans.
What it says
This subpart establishes requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels.
“The purpose of this subpart is to establish requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels.”
The planning criteria in this subpart are intended for developing nontank vessel response plans and identifying the resources needed to respond to a worst case discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge.
“intended for use in nontank vessel oil spill response plan development and the identification of resources necessary to respond to a nontank vessel's worst case discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge”
Developing a nontank vessel response plan prepares the vessel's crew and ship management to respond to an oil spill.
“The development of a nontank vessel response plan prepares the vessel's crew and ship management to respond to an oil spill.”
The specific criteria for response resources and their arrival times are not performance standards. They are planning criteria based on assumptions that may not exist during an actual oil spill incident.
“The specific criteria for response resources and their arrival times are not performance standards.”
For nontank vessels that are mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), additional oil spill planning standards are found in 30 CFR part 254.
“For nontank vessels that are mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), additional oil spill planning standards are found in 30 CFR part 254.”
Common questions
What is the purpose of the nontank vessel response plan subpart?
Its purpose is to establish requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels.
“The purpose of this subpart is to establish requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels.”
Are the response resource and arrival time criteria performance standards?
No. They are planning criteria based on assumptions that may not exist during an actual oil spill incident.
“They are planning criteria based upon a set of assumptions that may not exist during an actual oil spill incident.”
Where are additional oil spill planning standards for MODUs found?
For nontank vessels that are MODUs, additional oil spill planning standards are found in 30 CFR part 254.
“additional oil spill planning standards are found in 30 CFR part 254”
The text of 33 CFR 155.5010
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Purpose
The purpose of this subpart is to establish requirements for oil spill response plans for nontank vessels. The planning criteria in this subpart are intended for use in nontank vessel oil spill response plan development and the identification of resources necessary to respond to a nontank vessel's worst case discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge. The development of a nontank vessel response plan prepares the vessel's crew and ship management to respond to an oil spill. The specific criteria for response resources and their arrival times are not performance standards. They are planning criteria based upon a set of assumptions that may not exist during an actual oil spill incident. Note to § 155.5010: For nontank vessels that are mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), additional oil spill planning standards are found in 30 CFR part 254.
Sections it refers to
- 30 CFR part 254
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.