Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21M, § 6 (2026)

Tugboat escorts; regulations

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 6. (a) Effective January 1, 2005, no tank vessel carrying 6,000 or more barrels of oil shall enter or transit any area of special interest within the waters of the commonwealth unless the tank vessel is accompanied by a tugboat escort.

(b) This section shall not apply to a self-propelled tank vessel.

(c) The commissioner may issue regulations to implement this section which shall include, but not be limited to, determining, in consultation with the relevant Massachusetts pilot commissioner, the specific needs for such required tugboat escorts in areas of special interest, and establishing minimum standards for equipment and training of personnel on tugboat escorts. The commissioner, after a competitive bidding process and in consultation with the relevant Massachusetts pilot commissioner, may evaluate such bids and may enter into a contract with a tugboat escort operator which meets or exceeds such standards. The contract shall provide for service at a regulated rate for a minimum period of 5 years.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 2006–2020 · leading case: United States v. Massachusetts, 493 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2007).

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United States v. Massachusetts, 493 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2007). · cites it 8× “TUG ESCORT REQUIREMENTS The United States argues that the state’s tug escort provisions, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21M, § 6, are in conflict with regulations promulgated under Title I, see 33 C.”

United States v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 440 F. Supp. 2d 24 (D. Mass. 2006). · cites it 3× “Acts 251 , § 11 (codified at Mass. Gen. Laws c. 21M, § 6). 149 . Mass.”

United States v. Coalition for Buzzards Bay, 644 F.3d 26 (1st Cir. 2011). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21M, § 6. The 2007 Rule has a variant tug escort provision, which does *30 not apply at all to double-hulled barges.”

United States v. Commonwealth of Mass., 724 F. Supp. 2d 170 (D. Mass. 2010). · cites it 2× “21M, § 4(a) and (b); and (2) tugboat escort requirements for certain vessels set forth in M.G.L. c. 21M, § 6(a) and 6(b). Second, on August 30, 2007, just over two months after the First Circuit issued its decision, the Coast Guard promulgated revised regulations governing…”

Am. Waterways Operators v. United States Coast Guard (D. Mass. 2020). “21, § 50C, (2) the manning requirement for single-hulled vessels, Mass. Gen. L. c. 21M, § 4, and (3) the tugboat escort requirements, Mass.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21M, § 6(a) — 3 cases

United States v. Massachusetts, 493 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2007). “TUG ESCORT REQUIREMENTS The United States argues that the state’s tug escort provisions, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21M, § 6, are in conflict with regulations promulgated under Title I, see 33 C.”

United States v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 440 F. Supp. 2d 24 (D. Mass. 2006). “Acts 251 , § 11 (codified at Mass. Gen. Laws c. 21M, § 6). 149 . Mass.”

United States v. Commonwealth of Mass., 724 F. Supp. 2d 170 (D. Mass. 2010). “21M, § 4(a) and (b); and (2) tugboat escort requirements for certain vessels set forth in M.G.L. c. 21M, § 6(a) and 6(b). Second, on August 30, 2007, just over two months after the First Circuit issued its decision, the Coast Guard promulgated revised regulations governing…”

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