# The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 24-0022 - **title:** The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2025-01-02 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 24-0022 response to The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company concerning 178.274. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0022.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0022.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0022 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-01/240022.pdf **body:** <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration January 2, 2025 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Timothy Nuoffer Supervisor Code Services The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company One State Street P.O. Box 5024 Hartford, CT 06102 Reference No. 24-0022 Dear Mr. Nuoffer: This letter is in response to your March 20, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to offshore portable tanks. In your email, you note that The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (HSB) is a designated approval agency (DAA) for the new manufacture and periodic testing of United Nations (UN) portable tanks—including UN portable tanks approved and certified under Chapter 6.7 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. You add that the approval document that authorizes HSB to perform this activity—CA20030400011—does not specifically address offshore portable tanks as defined in § 178.274(a)(3). Specifically, you ask about HSB’s DAA authority and whether it includes approval and certification of UN portable tanks for offshore service in accordance with Chapter 6.7 of the IMDG Code. The answer is no; however, approval specific to such offshore service is not required by the HMR. HSB’s approval allows for the certification of newly manufactured and periodic retesting of UN portable tanks, as well as the periodic testing and inspections of existing Department of Transportation specification intermodal (IM) 101 and IM 102 portable tanks. Offshore portable tanks are portable tanks meeting the "Guidelines for the Approval of Containers Handled in Open Seas" specified in the IMDG Code (MSC.1 Cir.860) and marked “OFFSHORE PORTABLE TANK” on the identification plate. The certification of an offshore portable tank’s 1 https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/documents/approval/1_CA2003040001_2021104386.pdf/ApprovalsCA_19718_CAApproval-5d365c8c- 91fa-4f00-8642-c55bd89fc2a9 <<>> design, manufacture, testing, and/or inspection for compliance with MSC.1 Cir.860 is not required to be authorized by PHMSA. As a result, DAA’s that certify and/or test offshore portable tanks may do so independently of a DAA approval with PHMSA. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Steven Andrews Acting Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> 24-0022 Vore Jones, Jessie Jane CTR (PHMSA) From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Sent: Monday, March 25, 2024 4:30 PM To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA) Cc: Hazmat Interps Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation- DAA Approval of Offshore Portable Tanks Attachments: DAA Scope-Offshore Portable Tank_Interp03202024.pdf Importance: High Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Hi Alice, Please see the attached letter of interpretation request. Let me know if you need anything. Regards, -Breanna From: Nuoffer Timothy - Hartford-Remote-HSB Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 6:19 PM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Cc: Pascal, Irwin (PHMSA) ; douglas.r.lincoln3@uscg.mil; Redfield Bruce - Hartford-Remote-HSB ; Babka Sandy - Hartford-HSB Subject: Request for Interpretation- DAA Approval of Offshore Portable Tanks Importance: High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please find attached my letter requesting interpretation of 49CFR requirements for the approval of offshore portable tanks. Regards, Timothy Nuoffer Supervisor Code Services The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company One State Street P.O. Box 5024 Hartford, CT 06102-5024 Telephone: +1 (618) 444-7628 Mobile: Facsimile: +1 (618) 444-7628 1 <<>> Standards and Rulemaking Division Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Attn: PHH-10 US Department of Transportation East Building 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590-0001 Copy Irwin Pascal, US DOT Douglas Lincoln, US Coast Guard Sandy Babka, HSB Bruce Redfield, HSB To whom it may concern: Approval of Offshore Portable Tanks I have the following inquiry regarding if HSB can approve offshore portable tanks under our US DOT approval, CA2003040001. Background: HSB’s scope as a designated approval agency (DAA) covers new manufacture and periodic testing of UN portable tanks and MEGCs. HSB’s approval letter also states, “When the approval holder performs a function required by 49CFR, Parts 100-180, or the requirements of 6.7 IMDG Code, to be performed by an approval agency, that function must be performed in accordance with the applicable regulations.” The approval specifically does not state “Offshore portable tank” in the approval. In reviewing, 49CFR178.274 definition for offshore portable tank, which states “a portable tank specifically designed for repeated use in the transportation of hazardous materials to,from and between offshore facilities. An offshore portable tank is designed and constructed in accordance with the Guidelines for the Approval of Containers Handled in Open Seas specified in the IMDG Code.” Also, note that paragraph 49CFR178.274(j)(3), states, “If a portable tank is designed and approved for open seas operations, such as offshore oil exploration, in accordance with the IMDG Code, the words “OFFSHORE PORTABLE TANK” must be marked on the identification plate.” it appears that HSB’s US DOT DAA approval would include offshore portable tanks. Additionally, in review of the definition for Offshore portable tank in part 6.7.2.1 of the United Nations Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations, it refers to “the Guidelines for the Approval of Containers Handled in Open Seas specified by 20 March 2024 Timothy J. Nuoffer Field Services Manager Codes & Standards Tel.: +(618) 444-7628 Timothy_Nuoffer@hsb.com The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. One State Street P.O. Box 5024 Hartford, CT 06102-5024 www.munichre.com/HSB <<>> Page 2 20 March 2024 the International Maritime Organization in document MSC/Circ.860.” versus “the IMDG Code” in 49CFR178.274’s definition. Timothy J. Nuoffer Field Services Manager Codes & Standards Tel.: +(618) 444-7628 Question: Does HSB’s US DOT DAA approval include approval and certification of Timothy_Nuoffer@hsb.com offshore portable tanks in accordance with Part 6.7 of the IMDG Code? Answer: Yes, provided the UN portable tank satisfies the requirements of 49CFR178.273 thru 178.277, as applicable, and the Guidelines for the Approval of Containers Handled in Open Seas specified by the International Maritime Organization in document MSC/Circ.860 for the container. A reply as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated. Should you have additional questions or need to discuss, please call 618-444-7628. Sincerely, The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. <<>> Timothy_Nuoffer@hsb.com hsb.com IMPORTANT NOTICE: This email (including any attachments) contains confidential and proprietary information that is intended only for the individual or entity designated above. If you are not the intended recipient, please be aware that any use, review, distribution, reproduction, copying, or action taken in reliance upon this email is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, and permanently delete and destroy this email and any hard and electronic copies thereof. Although we have taken reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting software viruses, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that this email is virus-free. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) disclaims any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by this email whether due to viruses, interference, interception, data corruption, unapproved access, misrepresentation, or otherwise. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This email (including any attachments) contains confidential and proprietary information that is intended only for the individual or entity designated above. If you are not the intended recipient, please be aware that any use, review, distribution, reproduction, copying, or action taken in reliance upon this email is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, and permanently delete and destroy this email and any hard and electronic copies thereof. Although we have taken reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting software viruses, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that this email is virus-free. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) disclaims any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by this email whether due to viruses, interference, interception, data corruption, unapproved access, misrepresentation, or otherwise. 2 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 9184