Skip to main content
CaptainsGround

-55 -55 Bilge pumps

The exact 46 CFR §56.50-55 text, rendered cleanly with its subsection structure — plus how this rule shows up on the exam.

Public-domain federal text · ingested from eCFR
Every answer cited & verifiedAll 4 USCG exam modulesReviewed by a former NMC exam writer

TL;DR

(1) Each self-propelled vessel must be provided with a power-driven pump, or pumps connected to the bilge main as required by table 1 to § 56.50-55(a).

Try a sample question — no sign-up

Under 46 CFR Part 56, which of the following is defined as a 'vital system'?

Section 56.50-55 — full text

Rendered cleanly from the source — the exact regulatory text, with subsection structure preserved.

(a)

(1)Each self-propelled vessel must be provided with a power-driven pump, or pumps connected to the bilge main as required by table 1 to § 56.50-55(a). (b)(1) Ocean going sailing vessels and barges must be provided with pumps connected to the bilge main as required in table 2 to § 56.50-55(b)(1).

(2)The pumps and source of power for oceangoing sailing vessels and barges must be located above the bulkhead deck or at the highest convenient accessible level.

(3)Each hull of a vessel with more than one hull, such as a catamaran, must meet table 2 to § 56.50-55(b)(1). (c)(1) Each power bilge pump must develop a suction velocity of not less than 400 feet per minute and a corresponding capacity based on the size of bilge main piping required by § 56.50-50(d)(1).

(2)Alternatively, the minimum pump capacity, Q, in m/hr may be based on the following formula:

(3)For vessels of less than 65 feet in length not engaged on international voyages, the pump must have a minimum capacity of 25 gallons per minute and need not meet the velocity requirement of this paragraph. (d)Suitable means must be provided for priming centrifugal pumps which are not of the self-priming type. (e)(1) For self-propelled vessels, if the engines and boilers are in two or more watertight compartments, the bilge pumps must be distributed throughout these compartments. On other self-propelled vessels and mobile offshore drilling units, the bilge pumps must be in separate compartments to the extent practicable. When the location of bilge pumps in separate watertight compartments is not practicable, alternative arrangements may be considered by the Marine Safety Center.

(2)For non-self-propelled vessels requiring two bilge pumps, these pumps, insofar as practicable, must be located in separate watertight machinery spaces. When the location of bilge pumps in separate watertight compartments is not possible, the Marine Safety Center will consider alternate arrangements.

(3)The emergency bilge pumps must not be installed in a passenger ship forward of the collision bulkhead.

(4)Each hull of a vessel with more than one hull must have at least two means for pumping the bilges in each hull. (f)Sanitary, ballast, and general service pumps having the required capacity may be accepted as independent power bilge pumps if connected to the bilge system. Table 1 to § 56.50-55()—Power Bilge Pumps Required for Self-Propelled Vessels Vessel length, in feet | Passenger vessels | Dry-cargo vessels | Tankvessels | Mobileoffshoredrillingunits Internationalvoyages | Ocean,coast-wiseand GreatLakes | Allotherwaters | Ocean,coast-wiseand GreatLakes | All waters | All waters | All waters 180′ or more | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 Below 180′ and exceeding 65′ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 65′ or less | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Table 2 to § 56.50-55()()—Bilge Pumps Required for Nonself-Propelled Vessels Type of vessel | Waters navigated | Power pumps | Hand pumps Sailing | Ocean and coastwise | 2 | () Manned barges | do | 2 | () Manned barges | Other than ocean and coastwise | () | () Unmanned barges | All waters | () | () Mobile offshore drilling units | All waters | 2 | None. Formula 1 to § 56.50-55(c)(2)Q = 5.75d/1000,whered = diameter of the main bilge suction piping, in mm.[CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18843, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51007, Nov. 4, 1983; CGD 77-140, 54 FR 40608, Oct. 2, 1989; 55 FR 39968, Oct. 1, 1990; CGD 83-043, 60 FR 24773, May 10, 1995; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58346, Sept. 30, 2004]

(1)Each self-propelled vessel must be provided with a power-driven pump, or pumps connected to the bilge main as required by table 1 to § 56.50-55(a). (b)(1) Ocean going sailing vessels and barges must be provided with pumps connected to the bilge main as required in table 2 to § 56.50-55(b)(1).

(2)The pumps and source of power for oceangoing sailing vessels and barges must be located above the bulkhead deck or at the highest convenient accessible level.

(3)Each hull of a vessel with more than one hull, such as a catamaran, must meet table 2 to § 56.50-55(b)(1). (c)(1) Each power bilge pump must develop a suction velocity of not less than 400 feet per minute and a corresponding capacity based on the size of bilge main piping required by § 56.50-50(d)(1).

(2)Alternatively, the minimum pump capacity, Q, in m/hr may be based on the following formula:

(3)For vessels of less than 65 feet in length not engaged on international voyages, the pump must have a minimum capacity of 25 gallons per minute and need not meet the velocity requirement of this paragraph. (d)Suitable means must be provided for priming centrifugal pumps which are not of the self-priming type. (e)(1) For self-propelled vessels, if the engines and boilers are in two or more watertight compartments, the bilge pumps must be distributed throughout these compartments. On other self-propelled vessels and mobile offshore drilling units, the bilge pumps must be in separate compartments to the extent practicable. When the location of bilge pumps in separate watertight compartments is not practicable, alternative arrangements may be considered by the Marine Safety Center.

(2)For non-self-propelled vessels requiring two bilge pumps, these pumps, insofar as practicable, must be located in separate watertight machinery spaces. When the location of bilge pumps in separate watertight compartments is not possible, the Marine Safety Center will consider alternate arrangements.

(3)The emergency bilge pumps must not be installed in a passenger ship forward of the collision bulkhead.

(4)Each hull of a vessel with more than one hull must have at least two means for pumping the bilges in each hull. (f)Sanitary, ballast, and general service pumps having the required capacity may be accepted as independent power bilge pumps if connected to the bilge system. Table 1 to § 56.50-55()—Power Bilge Pumps Required for Self-Propelled Vessels Vessel length, in feet | Passenger vessels | Dry-cargo vessels | Tankvessels | Mobileoffshoredrillingunits Internationalvoyages | Ocean,coast-wiseand GreatLakes | Allotherwaters | Ocean,coast-wiseand GreatLakes | All waters | All waters | All waters 180′ or more | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 Below 180′ and exceeding 65′ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 65′ or less | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Table 2 to § 56.50-55()()—Bilge Pumps Required for Nonself-Propelled Vessels Type of vessel | Waters navigated | Power pumps | Hand pumps Sailing | Ocean and coastwise | 2 | () Manned barges | do | 2 | () Manned barges | Other than ocean and coastwise | () | () Unmanned barges | All waters | () | () Mobile offshore drilling units | All waters | 2 | None. Formula 1 to § 56.50-55(c)(2)Q = 5.75d/1000,whered = diameter of the main bilge suction piping, in mm.[CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18843, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51007, Nov. 4, 1983; CGD 77-140, 54 FR 40608, Oct. 2, 1989; 55 FR 39968, Oct. 1, 1990; CGD 83-043, 60 FR 24773, May 10, 1995; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58346, Sept. 30, 2004]

From regulation to exam

See how this section shows up on the test

Try a sample question

Under 46 CFR Part 56, which of the following is defined as a 'vital system'?

No sign-up needed.

Was this page helpful?

Start drilling in 30 seconds. Free.

No signup, no credit card — answer 5 real, cited exam questions right now.

46 CFR §56.50-55 — -55 -55 Bilge pumps · CaptainsGround