1. (a) No more than one hour prior to entering or transiting the marine waters of the San Francisco, San Pablo or Suisun Bays, the pilot or, if there is no pilot onboard, the master of a tank vessel shall report the vessel's name and position to the Clearing House, and shall report the status of the vessel as follows:

   1. (1) tank vessels carrying 5,000 or more long tons of oil as cargo shall report as “Escort Required”; or
   2. (2) tank vessels carrying less than 5,000 long tons of oil as cargo and requiring no escort need not be reported.

2. (b) After completing the review of the Checklist or the Escort Plan, as specified in section 851.5.1, the pilot or, if there is no pilot onboard, the master of the tank vessel shall report the following to the Clearing House:

   1. (1) a statement that the Escort Planning process has been completed;
   2. (2) if a pilot is onboard, a statement from the pilot as to whether the Checklist is completed, and whether the Checklist is or is not adequate;
   3. (3) a listing of the tugs that were chosen for the escort during the Escort Planning process;
   4. (4) for a tanker, the vessel's displacement;
   5. (5) for a barge, the vessel's deadweight tonnage.

3. (c) Pre-Escort Conference: Before commencing an escorted transit, the pilot or, if there is no pilot onboard, the master of the tank vessel shall initiate communications with the escort tug(s). During this pre-escort conference, all parties shall plan and discuss the details of the escorted transit as specified on the Checklist or in the Escort Plan, including, but not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) the intended route;
   2. (2) the intended destination;
   3. (3) the speed of the vessel;
   4. (4) the positioning of the escort tug(s) relative to the tank vessel being escorted;
   5. (5) the manner in which an emergency connection would be made between the escort tug and tank vessel;
   6. (6) radio communications, including primary and secondary frequencies; and
   7. (7) anticipated weather and tidal conditions.

4. (d) The master of the escort tug(s) shall report the name of the tug(s) and the name of the tank vessel to the Clearing House upon arrival at the following locations:

   1. (1) for inbound tank vessel movements; when passing Alcatraz, and when on-station;
   2. (2) for in-bay and outbound tank vessel movements; when on-station at the tank vessel prior to movement of the tank vessel.
5. (e) At all times during the escorted transit, the master or pilot of the tank vessel shall maintain direct, two-way radio communication with the master or pilot of the escort tug. The radio communication shall be on a channel agreed to by both the master or pilot of the tank vessel and the master or pilot of the escort tug.

6. (f) Reporting tug casualties during and after an escorted transit:

   1. (1) the master of the escort tug shall immediately notify the master or pilot of the escorted vessel of any casualty that occurs to the tug during the escorted transit. A casualty shall include any loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any component or system that reduces the maneuverability of the tug, or any other occurrence that adversely affects the tug's ability to perform the escort function;
   2. (2) the tug owner, operator or agent shall file a written casualty report with the Clearing House within 72 hours of occurrence. The Clearing House shall maintain a database of these reports for three years.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 8670.17.2(a) and 8670.23.1(d), Government Code. Reference: Section 8670.23.1(e)(1), Government Code.

History

1. New section filed 5-6-93 as an emergency; operative 5-6-93 (Register 93, No. 19). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL 9-3-93 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

2. New section refiled 8-16-93 as an emergency; operative 9-4-93 (Register 93, No. 34). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-3-94 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

3. Certificate of Compliance as to 8-16-93 order transmitted to OAL 11-30-93 and filed 1-11-94 (Register 94, No. 2).

4. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 11-8-96; operative 1-1-97 (Register 96, No. 45).

5. Amendment of subsections (a)(2) and (f)(2) filed 5-19-2000; operative 6-18-2000 (Register 2000, No. 20).

6. Editorial correction reinstating section as it existed prior to amendments printed in error in Register 2000, No. 20 (Register 2000, No. 42).

7. Amendment of subsections (a)(2) and (f)(4) filed 9-4-2001; operative 10-4-2001 (Register 2001, No. 36).