46 CFR § 153.970 - Cargo transfer piping.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s153.970"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 153.970 - Cargo transfer piping."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "153.970"
section_name: "Cargo transfer piping."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "O"
subchapter_name: "CERTAIN BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES"
part_number: "153"
part_name: "SHIPS CARRYING BULK LIQUID, LIQUEFIED GAS, OR COMPRESSED GAS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 3703; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 153.40 issued under 49 U.S.C. 5103. Sections 153.470 through 153.491, 153.1100 through 153.1132, and 153.1600 through 153.1608 also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1903 (b)."
regulatory_source: "CGD 73-96, 42 FR 49027, Sept. 26, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "153"
---


# 153.970 Cargo transfer piping.

The person in charge of cargo transfer shall ensure that:

(a) Cargo is transferred to or from a cargo tank only through the tankship's cargo piping system;

(b) Vapor not returned to shore through the tankship's vapor return system is discharged at the height required for the cargo's vent riser in Table 1, and

(c) All cargo vapor is returned to shore through the valved connection on the venting system if:

(1) The cargo requires closed gauging, is referenced to § 153.372 or is referenced to § 153.525;

(2) The transfer terminal has vapor return equipment; and

(3) In his estimation the vapor return equipment is adequate to handle the vapor expected from the tank.