(a) Except as required in paragraph (b) of this section, the outer hull steel plating, including the shell and deck plating must meet the material standards of the American Bureau of Shipping published in “Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels” 1981.

(b) Along the length of the cargo area, grades of steel must be as follows:

(1) The deck stringer and sheer strake must be at least Grade E steel or a grade of steel that has equivalent chemical properties, mechanical properties, and heat treatment, and that is specially approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG).

(2) The strake at the turn of the bilge must be Grade D, Grade E, or a grade of steel that has equivalent chemical properties, mechanical properties, and heat treatment, and that is specially approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG).

(3) The outer hull steel of vessels must meet the standards in § 154.172 if the hull steel temperature is calculated to be below −5 °C (23 °F) assuming:

(i) For any waters in the world, the ambient cold conditions of still air at 5 °C (41 °F) and still sea water at 0 °C (32 °F);

(ii) For cargo containment systems with secondary barriers, the temperature of the secondary barrier is the design temperature; and

(iii) For cargo containment systems without secondary barriers, the temperature of the cargo tank is the design temperature.