Except as otherwise provided by law or regulations in this subpart, the following standards for construction are acceptable.

(a) American Bureau of Shipping “Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels” regarding the construction of hulls, boilers and machinery in effect on the date of inspection. These rules may be purchased from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), 16855 Northcase Drive, Houston, TX 77060.

(b) U. S. Navy Standard Construction Specification in effect on the date of inspection.

(c) U. S. Coast Guard Standard Construction Specification in effect on the date of inspection.

Each vessel must meet the applicable requirements in Subchapter S of this chapter.

(a) On all nautical school ships where the arrangements will possibly permit, all enclosures where persons may be quartered, or where anyone may be employed, shall be provided with not less than two avenues of escape, so located that if one of such avenues is not available another may be.

(a) All scupper, sanitary, and other similar discharges which lead through the ship's hull shall be fitted with efficient means for preventing the ingress of water in the event of a fracture of such pipes. The requirements do not apply to the discharges in the machinery space connected with the main and auxiliary engines, pumps, etc.

The number, capacity, and arrangement of bilge pumps and bilge piping shall be in accordance with the requirements for cargo vessels contained in parts 50 to 61 of Subchapter F (Marine Engineering) of this chapter. Sounding pipes shall be fitted in each compartment, except those accessible at all times. The main and secondary drain systems installed in accordance with U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard Construction Specifications shall be accepted as meeting the intent of this section.

When water ballasting of fuel tanks is necessary, such oily ballast shall not be subsequently discharged overboard within any of the prohibited zones as defined by the Oil Pollution Act, 1961 (33 U.S.C. 1011), except through oily water separators which meet the requirements in 33 CFR 155.330 through 155.380, or directly into sludge barges or shore facilities, or other approved means.