33 CFR 155.760: Amendment of oil transfer procedures
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section lets the COTP or OCMI require a vessel operator to amend transfer procedures that do not meet the requirements of this part. The operator gets written notice and 14 days to respond, and the amendment takes effect 30 days after receipt unless the operator petitions the Commandant. In urgent cases, an amendment can take effect on the date of notice.
Applies toVessel operators of vessels that are required to have transfer procedures under § 155.720.
What it says
The COTP or OCMI may require a vessel operator to amend transfer procedures if the COTP or OCMI finds they do not meet the requirements of this part.
33 CFR 155.760(a)“may require the vessel operator of any vessel that is required to have transfer procedures under § 155.720 to amend those procedures”
The COTP or OCMI must notify the vessel operator in writing of any inadequacies in the oil transfer procedures.
33 CFR 155.760(b)“shall notify the vessel operator in writing of any inadequacies in the oil transfer procedures”
The vessel operator may submit written information, views, arguments and proposals for amending the procedures within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI notice.
33 CFR 155.760(b)“The vessel operator may submit written information, views, and arguments on and proposals for amending the procedures within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI notice.”
After considering all relevant material, the COTP or OCMI must notify the operator of any amendment required or adopted, or may rescind the notice.
33 CFR 155.760(b)“the COTP or OCMI shall notify the vessel operator of any amendment required or adopted, or the COTP or OCMI may rescind the notice”
The amendment becomes effective 30 days after the operator receives the notice, unless the operator petitions the Commandant to review it, in which case the effective date is delayed pending the Commandant's decision.
33 CFR 155.760(b)“The amendment becomes effective 30 days after the vessel operator receives the notice, unless the vessel operator petitions the Commandant to review the COTP or OCMI notice”
Petitions to the Commandant must be in writing and submitted via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to amend.
33 CFR 155.760(b)“Petitions to the Commandant must be submitted in writing via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to amend.”
If a condition requires immediate action to prevent a discharge or risk of discharge, and the paragraph (b) procedure is impractical or contrary to the public interest, the COTP or OCMI may issue an amendment effective on the date the operator receives notice.
33 CFR 155.760(c)“he or she may issue an amendment effective on the date the vessel operator receives notice of it”
A petition to the Commandant about an immediate amendment does not postpone the amendment.
33 CFR 155.760(c)“The petition does not postpone the amendment.”
Common questions
How long do I have to respond to a notice to amend my transfer procedures?
The vessel operator may submit written information, views, arguments and proposals within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI notice.
“The vessel operator may submit written information, views, and arguments on and proposals for amending the procedures within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI notice.”
When does an amendment to oil transfer procedures take effect?
It becomes effective 30 days after the vessel operator receives the notice, unless the operator petitions the Commandant for review. A petition delays the effective date pending the Commandant's decision.
“The amendment becomes effective 30 days after the vessel operator receives the notice, unless the vessel operator petitions the Commandant to review the COTP or OCMI notice”
How do I petition the Commandant about a required amendment?
Petitions to the Commandant must be submitted in writing via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to amend.
“Petitions to the Commandant must be submitted in writing via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to amend.”
Can an amendment take effect immediately?
Yes, if the COTP or OCMI finds a condition requiring immediate action to prevent discharge or risk of discharge that makes the paragraph (b) procedure impractical or contrary to the public interest. A petition does not postpone it.
“he or she may issue an amendment effective on the date the vessel operator receives notice of it”
The text of 33 CFR 155.760
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Amendment of transfer procedures
(a) The COTP or OCMI may require the vessel operator of any vessel that is required to have transfer procedures under § 155.720 to amend those procedures if the COTP or OCMI finds that the transfer procedures do not meet the requirements of this part.
(b) The COTP or OCMI shall notify the vessel operator in writing of any inadequacies in the oil transfer procedures. The vessel operator may submit written information, views, and arguments on and proposals for amending the procedures within 14 days from the date of the COTP or OCMI notice. After considering all relevant material presented, the COTP or OCMI shall notify the vessel operator of any amendment required or adopted, or the COTP or OCMI may rescind the notice. The amendment becomes effective 30 days after the vessel operator receives the notice, unless the vessel operator petitions the Commandant to review the COTP or OCMI notice, in which case its effective date is delayed pending a decision by the Commandant. Petitions to the Commandant must be submitted in writing via the COTP or OCMI who issued the requirement to amend.
(c) If the COTP or OCMI finds that there is a condition requiring immediate action to prevent the discharge or risk of discharge that makes the procedure in paragraph (b) of this section impractical or contrary to the public interest, he or she may issue an amendment effective on the date the vessel operator receives notice of it. In such a case, the COTP or OCMI includes a brief statement of the reasons for the findings in the notice, and the vessel operator may petition the Commandant, in any manner, to review the amendment. The petition does not postpone the amendment.
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.