Section 56.50-95 - Overboard discharges and shell connections(a)(1) All inlets and discharges led through the vessel's side must be fitted with efficient and accessible valves, located as close to the hull penetrations as is practicable.(2) The number of scuppers, sanitary discharges, tank overflows, and other similar openings in the vessel's side must be reduced to a minimum, either by making each discharge serve for as many as possible of the sanitary and other pipes, or in any other satisfactory manner.(3) In general, when the bulkhead deck is above the freeboard deck, the requirements of this section apply relative to the bulkhead deck. For vessels not assigned load lines, such as certain inland vessels and barges, the weather deck must be taken as the freeboard deck.(b)(1) Scuppers and discharge pipes originating at any level and penetrating the shell either more than 17.5 inches (450mm) below the freeboard deck or less than 23.5 inches (600mm) above the summer load waterline must be provided with an automatic nonreturn valve at the shell. This valve, unless required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section, may be omitted if the piping is not less than Schedule 80 in wall thickness for nominal pipe sizes through 8 inches, Schedule 60 for nominal pipe sizes above 8 inches and below 16 inches, and Schedule 40 for nominal pipe sizes 16 inches and above.(2) Discharges led through the shell originating either from spaces below the freeboard deck, or from within enclosed superstructures and equivalent deckhouses on the freeboard deck as defined in § 42.13-15(i) of subchapter E of this chapter, must be fitted with efficient and accessible valves for preventing water from passing inboard. Normally each separate discharge must have one automatic nonreturn valve with a positive means of closing it from a position above the freeboard deck. Where, however, the vertical upward distance from the summer load line to the inboard end of the discharge pipe through which flooding can take place exceeds 0.01L, the discharge may have two automatic nonreturn valves without positive means of closing, provided that the inboard valve is always accessible for examination under service conditions. Where that vertical distance exceeds 0.02L a single automatic nonreturn valve without positive means of closing is acceptable. In an installation where the two automatic nonreturn valves are used, the inboard valve must be above the tropical load line. The means for operating the positive action valve must be readily accessible and provided with an indicator showing whether the valve is open or closed. A notice must be posted at the operating station stating that the valve must not be closed except as required in an emergency.(3) Where scuppers and drains are installed in superstructures or deckhouses not enclosed as defined in § 42.13-15(j) of subchapter E of this chapter, they must be led overboard. Refer to paragraph (b)(1) of this section for any nonreturn valve requirement.(c) Overflow pipes which discharge through the vessel's side must be located as far above the deepest load line as practicable and fitted with valves as required by paragraph (b) of this section. Two automatic nonreturn valves must be used unless it is impracticable to locate the inboard valve in an accessible position, in which case a nonreturn valve with a positive means of closure from a position above the freeboard deck will be acceptable. Overflows which extend at least 30 inches above the freeboard deck before discharging overboard may be fitted with a single automatic nonreturn valve at the vessel's side. Overflow pipes which serve as tank vents must not be fitted with positive means of closure without the specific approval of the Marine Safety Center. Overflow pipes may be vented to the weather.(d)(1) Sea inlets and discharges, such as used in closed systems required for the operation of main and auxiliary machinery, as in pump connections or scoop injection heat exchanger connections, need not meet the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section but instead must be fitted with a shutoff valve located as near the shell plating as practicable, and may be locally controlled if the valve is located in a manned machinery space. These controls must be readily accessible above the floor plates. Manned machinery spaces include the main machinery space and are either attended by the crew or are automated in accordance with part 62 of this subchapter to be comparable to an attended space.(2) In unmanned machinery spaces, all machinery inlets and discharges as described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section must be remotely operable from a position above the freeboard deck unless otherwise approved and must meet the access and marking requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section.(e)(1) Pipes terminating at the shell plating must be fitted with bends or elbows between the outboard openings and the first rigid connection inboard. In no case must such pipes be fitted in a direct line between the shell opening and the first inboard connection.(2) Seachests and other hull fittings must be as short as possible and located so as to minimize the possibility of being blocked or obstructed.(3) The thickness of inlet and discharge connections outboard of the shutoff valves, and exclusive of seachests, must be not less than that of Schedule 80 for nominal pipe sizes through 8 inches, Schedule 60 for nominal pipe sizes above 8 inches and below 16 inches, and Schedule 40 for nominal pipe sizes 16 inches and above.(f) Valves required by this section and piping system components outboard of such required valves must be of a steel, bronze, or ductile cast iron specification listed in table 1 to § 56.60-1 . Lead or other heat sensitive materials having a melting point of 1,700 °F or less must not be used. Brittle materials such as cast iron must not be used in such service. Where nonmetallic materials are used in a piping system, and shell closures are required by this section, a positive closure metallic valve is required (see also § 56.60-25 ).(g) The inboard openings of ash and rubbish-chute discharges must be fitted with efficient covers. If the inboard opening is located below the freeboard deck, the cover shall be watertight, and in addition, an automatic nonreturn valve must be fitted in the chute in any easily accessible position above the deepest load line. Means must be provided for securing both the cover and the valve when the chute is not in use. When ash-ejectors or similar expelling devices located in the boiler room have the inboard openings below the deepest load line, they must be fitted with efficient means for preventing the accidental admission of water. The thickness of pipe for ash ejector discharge must be not less than Schedule 80.(h) Where deck drains, soil lines, and sanitary drains discharge through the shell in way of cargo tanks on tank vessels, the valves required by this section must be located outside the cargo tanks. These valves must meet the material requirements of paragraph (f) of this section. The piping led through such tanks must be fitted with expansion bends where required, and must be of steel pipe having a wall thickness of not less than Schedule 60, except that the Commandant will consider the use of suitable corrosion-resistant material of lesser thickness. All pipe joints within the tanks must be welded. Soil lines and sanitary drains which pass through cargo tanks must be provided with nonreturn valves with positive means of closing or other suitable means for preventing the entrance of gases into living quarters.(i) Sea valves must not be held open or closed with locks.CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18843; Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69-127, 35 FR 9979, June 17, 1970; CGFR 72-59R, 37 FR 6189, Mar. 25, 1972; CGD 81-030, 53 FR 17837, May 18, 1988; CGD 77-140, 54 FR 40610, Oct. 2, 1989