# 33 C.F.R. § 154.2020 (2026): Certification and recertification—owner/operator responsibilities > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2020 ## Section - **Citation:** 33 C.F.R. § 154.2020 (2026) - **Heading:** Certification and recertification—owner/operator responsibilities - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Title 33 CFR: Navigation and Navigable Waters / Chapter I: COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY / Part 154: FACILITIES TRANSFERRING OIL OR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IN BULK / Subpart P: Marine Vapor Control Systems / § 154.2020: § 154.2020 Certification and recertification—owner/operator responsibilities. ## Text (a) Prior to operating, a new vapor control system (VCS) installation must be certified under 33 CFR 154.2023 by a certifying entity as meeting the requirements of this subpart. (b) A certified VCS or a Coast Guard-approved VCS must be recertified by a certifying entity under 33 CFR 154.2023 before it can— (1) Control vapors other than those for which it was originally certified; (2) Receive vapors from vessels other than those for which it was approved, if the VCS was in operation prior to July 23, 1990; (3) Operate under any changed design or configuration; (4) Operate as part of multi-breasted barge-loading operations, if the VCS was not originally approved or certified for such operations; or (5) Be connected to a tank vessel if a pigging system is used to clear cargo in the cargo line back to the tank vessel. (c) For a transfer facility, prior to operating a VCS to control vapor from a tank vessel during cargo loading line pigging to clear cargo in the cargo loading line back to the tank vessel, the cargo loading line pigging system must be reviewed by a certifying entity as meeting the requirements of 33 CFR 154.2104. (d) To apply for certification, the owner or operator of a facility VCS must submit plans, calculations, specifications, and other related information, including a qualitative failure analysis, to the certifying entity. Suggested, but not mandatory, guidance for preparing a qualitative failure analysis can be found in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers publication “Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures,” and in Military Standard MIL-STD-882B for a quantitative failure analysis. For assistance in locating those publications, contact the Commandant (CG-ENG), Attn: Office of Design and Engineering Standards, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509, telephone 202-372-1418 or via email at Hazmatstandards@uscg.mil . The analysis must demonstrate that— nes for Hazard Evaluation Procedures,” and in Military Standard MIL-STD-882B for a quantitative failure analysis. For assistance in locating those publications, contact the Commandant (CG-ENG), Attn: Office of Design and Engineering Standards, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509, telephone 202-372-1418 or via email at Hazmatstandards@uscg.mil . The analysis must demonstrate that— (1) The VCS can operate continuously and safely while controlling cargo vapors to or from tankships or tank barges over the full range of transfer rates expected at the facility; (2) The VCS has the proper alarms and automatic shutdown systems required by this subpart to prevent an unsafe operation; (3) The VCS has sufficient automatic or passive devices to minimize damage to personnel, property, and the environment if an accident were to occur; (4) If a quantitative failure analysis is also conducted, the level of safety attained is at least one order of magnitude greater than that calculated for operating without a VCS; and (5) If a facility uses a cargo line pigging system to clear cargo in the cargo line back to the tank vessel with the VCS connected, the qualitative failure analysis must demonstrate that the cargo line pigging system has at least the same levels of safety required by paragraphs (d)(1), (2), and (3) of this section to prevent overpressure of the vessel's cargo tanks and account for the probability that the pig is destroyed during line-pigging operations. (e) The VCS owner or operator must maintain at the facility— (1) A copy of VCS design documentation, including plans, drawings, calculations, and specifications for the VCS; (2) The facility operations manual, including the list of cargoes that the facility is approved to vapor control; (3) Any certification or recertification letter issued under 33 CFR 154.2023; and (4) Other records as required by 33 CFR 154.740. [USCG-1999-5150, 78 FR 42618, July 16, 2013, as amended by USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38436, July 7, 2014; 80 FR 7540, Feb. 11, 2015] ## Nearby sections - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2000 (2026) § 154.2000 Applicability.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2000.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2001 (2026) § 154.2001 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2001.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2010 (2026) § 154.2010 Qualifications for acceptance as a certifying entity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2010.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2011 (2026) § 154.2011 Application for acceptance as a certifying entity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2011.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2020 (2026) § 154.2020 Certification and recertification—owner/operator responsibilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2020.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2021 (2026) § 154.2021 Operational review—owner/operator responsibilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2021.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2022 (2026) § 154.2022 Certification, recertification, or operational review—certifying entity responsibilities, generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2022.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2023 (2026) § 154.2023 Recertification—certifying entity responsibilities, generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2023.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2024 (2026) § 154.2024 Operational review—certifying entity responsibilities, generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2024.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2025 (2026) § 154.2025 Certification, recertification, or operational review—certifying entity documentation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2025.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2030 (2026) § 154.2030 Transfer facilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2030.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2031 (2026) § 154.2031 Tank barge cleaning facilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2031.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2100 (2026) § 154.2100 Vapor control system, general.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2100.md) - [33 C.F.R. § 154.2101 (2026) § 154.2101 Requirements for facility vapor connections.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2101.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T33_P154_S154_2020. 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