RICE Hydro, Inc. Helping Vessels Stay Compliant with US Coast Guard Requirements

Vessel owners/operators must be compliant with regulations 33 CFR parts 155 and 156 prior to engaging in the transfer of any oil or hazardous material in the United States.

Carson City, United States – August 31, 2018 /PressCable/ —

USCG Tightens Reigns to Address 30% Failures in Bunker Line Testing

(Carson City, Nev., August 15, 2018) – The recent buzz of maritime alerts focused on the high percentage of bunker line test failures and the US Coast Guard’s response with strengthened enforcement of fines and halting bunker line operations. During Port State Control (PSC) examinations, it was noted that approximately 30% of all vessels were not compliant. Many vessel owners have looked towards Nevada based manufacturer, RICE Hydro, Inc. for easy to use, effective solutions to test vessel bunker lines per US Coast Guard Requirements. Recently, RICE Hydro has modified some of its product line configurations to better assist maritime vessels with the testing of their bunker lines to maintain compliance. Modified products include the: HP-10, HP-25/35, HP-35/20, HP-35/25.

RICE Hydro, Inc. has changed the configuration of these products by streamlining access to the connection points critical to testing. The above mentioned units now house connection points in one location on the right-hand side of the units. The centralization of connection points allows the vessels to house the unit permanently onboard and initiate testing without needing to locate a high-pressure pneumatic test pump in port, eliminating transfer interruptions. Bunker Line Failures can lead to costly port delays and hefty fines for vessel owners.

In most cases, the PSC Officers found that failing vessels had tested the systems with air rather than liquid, making test results null and void. In addition, several vessels were not able to provide written records of the date and result of the most recent test and inspection of bunker lines/transfer systems as required by 33 CFR 155.820.

Denese Doherty, General Manager,RICE Hydro Inc., stated, “While bunker line testing requirements aren’t new, the Coast Guard’s enforcement efforts are increasing. Recently, we have seen a strong uptick in sales to shipping companies such as: SeaBird Exploration, Euronav and General Maritime. RICE Hydro is continuously looking at ways to improve our product to meet the needs of our customers.”

Vessel owners/operators must be compliant with regulations 33 CFR parts 155 and 156 prior to engaging in the transfer of any oil or hazardous material in the United States. Bunker lines are required to be tested to 1.5 times their allowable operating pressure by placing them under a constant hydrostatic load for a prescribed period of time; generally, 5 to 10 minutes.

Contact Info:
Name: Denese Dorerty
Email: denese@ricehydro.com
Organization: Rice Hydro Inc
Address: 3500 Arrowhead Drive, Carson City, Nevada 89706, United States
Phone: +1-775-885-1280

For more information, please visit https://RiceHydro.com

Source: PressCable

Release ID: 401213