---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3716"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3716"
heading: "Tank washings"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3716"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 37 — Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes"
---

# §3716. Tank washings

- (a) A [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) may not transfer cargo in a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) if, before arriving, the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) has discharged tank washings containing [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28) or [hazardous material](/usc/46/2101.md?p=17) in preparation for loading at that port or place in violation of the laws of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) or in a manner or quantities inconsistent with a treaty to which the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) is a party.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall establish effective [control](/usc/46/12113.md?p=c-2) and supervisory measures to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 527.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 3716 | 46:391a(18) |

Section 3716 requires the Secretary to establish effective control and supervisory measures to prohibit the discharge of tank washings by dumping at sea. The section also prohibits the dumping vessel from subsequently loading any cargo at a port or terminal subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. This section is intended to prohibit the practice of discharging a cargo of oil or hazardous substance, then going to sea to clean tanks by pumping tank washing mixtures overboard, and then returning to a port or terminal subject to the jurisdiction of the United States for the purpose of loading a cargo that was incompatible with the prior cargo.