(a) Every tank vessel subject to the regulations in this subchapter shall be inspected every 5 years or more often, if necessary, by the Coast Guard to see that the hull, boilers, machinery, equipment, apparatus for storage, and appliances of the vessel comply with marine inspection laws, and the regulations in this subchapter, and when applicable, subchapters E, F, J, O, Q, S, and W of this chapter and 33 CFR parts 155 and 157.

(b) Tank vessels which are laid up, dismantled, and out of commission are exempt from inspections required by law or regulations in this subchapter, provided that such vessels are cleaned of all cargo residue and maintained in a gas free condition.

(c) For inspection and tests of tanks containing certain dangerous cargoes in bulk, see part 98 and subchapter O of this chapter.

(d) The regulations in this part have preemptive effect over State or local regulations in the same field.

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16662, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGFR 70-10, 35 FR 3709, Feb. 25, 1970; CGD 80-009, 48 FR 36458, Aug. 11, 1983; CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51006, Nov. 4, 1983; CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25286, May 20, 1996; CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51043, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-1999-4976, 65 FR 6499, Feb. 9, 2000; USCG-2006-24797, 77 FR 33872, June 7, 2012]