NVIC 05-89: Nondestructive testing of pressure vessel cargo tanks

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular is Coast Guard guidance, not a regulation. It explains minimum recommendations for meeting NDT requirements for pressure vessel type cargo tanks (PVCTs). It also gives the background and reasons for the NDT requirement.

Applies toThe Circular addresses pressure vessel type cargo tanks (PVCTs) aboard tank barges, and NDT proposals submitted to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI).

What it says

  1. The Circular explains minimum recommendations for meeting the PVCT NDT requirements published in the Federal Register as part of Parts 38, 98 and 151 of 46 CFR.

    “This Circular explains minimum recommendations for satisfying Pressure Vessel”

  2. The Circular should be used when preparing NDT proposals for submission to the OCMI in compliance with applicable regulations.

    “This Circular should be used when preparing NDT proposals for submission to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI)”

  3. The most important reason for requiring NDT on PVCTs is to determine the condition of the tank and ensure it is acceptable for its present service.

    NVIC 05-89(b)(1)“The most important reason for requiring NDT on PVCTs is to determine the”

  4. Periodic NDT on PVCTs thirty years old or older was required to permit extending internal examination intervals from 4 or 8 years to 10 years for most tanks.

    NVIC 05-89(b)(2)“Periodic NDT on PVCTs thirty years old or older was required to permit”

  5. Surface cracking from fatigue or environmental effects is not visible to the naked eye in the initial stages and sometimes escapes detection until failure occurs.

    NVIC 05-89(b)(4)“Surface cracking due to fatigue and/or environmental effects is not visible to the naked eye in the initial stages”

Common questions

What is NVIC 5-89 for?

It explains minimum recommendations for satisfying the PVCT NDT requirements in Parts 38, 98 and 151 of 46 CFR. It is guidance, not a regulation.

“This Circular explains minimum recommendations for satisfying Pressure Vessel”

Why does the Coast Guard require NDT on pressure vessel cargo tanks?

The most important reason is to determine the condition of the tank and ensure it is acceptable for its present service.

“The most important reason for requiring NDT on PVCTs is to determine the”

What is the design life of pressure vessel type cargo tanks?

The Circular says the design life of these tanks is estimated to be 20 to 30 years, but actual service life is unknown.

“Design life of these tanks is estimated to be 20 to 30 years.”

The text of NVIC 05-89

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 05-89 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Guidelines for Nondestructive Testing of Pressure Vessel Type Cargo Tanks Aboard Tank Barges

Commandant G-MVI-2 United States Coast Guard ( COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 5-89 27 Nov 1989 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 5-89 Electronic Version for Distribution on the World Wide Web Subj: Guidelines for Nondestructive Testing of Pressure Vessel Type Cargo Tanks Aboard Tank Barges

Guidelines for Nondestructive Testing of Pressure Vessel Type Cargo Tanks Aboard Tank Barges — PURPOSE. This Circular explains minimum recommendations for satisfying Pressure Vessel

type Cargo Tank (PVCT) Nondestructive Testing (NDT) requirements published in the Federal Register as part of Parts 38, 98 and 151 of 46 CFR. This Circular should be used when preparing NDT proposals for submission to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) in compliance with applicable regulations.

Guidelines for Nondestructive Testing of Pressure Vessel Type Cargo Tanks Aboard Tank Barges — BACKGROUND.

a. Brief history of regulatory project. In response to an industry request in 1981, the Coast Guard initiated a project to review existing inspection requirements for PVCTs. Revised regulations extending the internal examination interval for most cargoes presently carried in PVCTs were recently published. These regulations will affect about 2/3 of all PVCTs. b. Reasons for a regulatory NDT requirement. (1) The most important reason for requiring NDT on PVCTs is to determine the condition of the tank and ensure that it is acceptable for its present service. (2) Periodic NDT on PVCTs thirty years old or older was required to permit extending internal examination intervals from 4 or 8 years to 10 years for most tanks. (3) Design life of these tanks is estimated to be 20 to 30 years. Actual service life is unknown because: of lack of research data about the actual type, magnitude, and number of cycles of stress encountered in marine service; the working pressure is sometimes significantly less than the design pressure; and, shore tanks which have experienced failures have not been subjected to the additional loads encountered in marine service. These loads include bending and torsion, caused by bending and twisting of the hull and transmitted to the tank through the saddles-, vibration, longitudinal forces caused by liquid sloshing in the tank, and impacts due to minor collisions. Not having precise information about actual loading induced stresses and the number of cycles which would be experienced, industry may have "over designed" the PVCTs which are now in service. (4) Surface cracking due to fatigue and/or environmental effects is not visible to the naked eye in the initial stages and sometimes escapes detection until failure occurs.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 CFR Part 38
  • 46 CFR Part 98
  • 46 CFR Part 151

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. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.