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46 U.S.C.

46 U.S.C. — Shipping

USC · 1,000 sections

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Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. Read the official text ↗

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Subtitle I-General§§ 101–505 · 21 sectionsCHAPTER 1-DEFINITIONS§§ 101–116 · 16 sectionsCHAPTER 5-OTHER GENERAL PROVISIONS§§ 501–505 · 5 sectionsSubtitle II-Vessels and Seamen§§ 2101–15109 · 396 sectionsPart A-General Provisions§§ 2101–2306 · 24 sectionsCHAPTER 21-GENERAL§§ 2101–2118 · 17 sectionsCHAPTER 23-OPERATION OF VESSELS GENERALLY§§ 2301–2306 · 7 sectionsPart B-Inspection and Regulation of Vessels§§ 3101–4901 · 89 sectionsCHAPTER 31-GENERAL§§ 3101–3106 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 32-MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS§§ 3201–3205 · 5 sectionsCHAPTER 33-INSPECTION GENERALLY§§ 3301–3318 · 18 sectionsCHAPTER 35-CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS§§ 3501–3510 · 10 sectionsCHAPTER 37-CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES§§ 3701–3719 · 20 sectionsCHAPTER 41-UNINSPECTED VESSELS GENERALLY§§ 4101–4106 · 5 sectionsCHAPTER 43-RECREATIONAL VESSELS§§ 4301–4312 · 12 sectionsCHAPTER 45-UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS§§ 4501–4507 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 47-ABANDONMENT OF BARGES§§ 4701–4705 · 5 sectionsCHAPTER 49-OCEANGOING NON-PASSENGER COMMERCIAL VESSELS§ 4901 · 1 sectionPart C-Load Lines of Vessels§§ 5101–5116 · 15 sectionsCHAPTER 51-LOAD LINES§§ 5101–5116 · 15 sectionsPart D-Marine Casualties§§ 6101–6309 · 13 sectionsCHAPTER 61-REPORTING MARINE CASUALTIES§§ 6101–6104 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 63-INVESTIGATING MARINE CASUALTIES§§ 6301–6309 · 9 sectionsPart E-Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents§§ 7101–7706 · 53 sectionsCHAPTER 71-LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY§§ 7101–7116 · 15 sectionsCHAPTER 73-MERCHANT MARINERS' DOCUMENTS§§ 7301–7319 · 20 sectionsCHAPTER 75-GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND DOCUMENTATION§§ 7501–7511 · 11 sectionsCHAPTER 77-SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION§§ 7701–7706 · 7 sectionsPart F-Manning of Vessels§§ 8101–9308 · 33 sectionsCHAPTER 81-GENERAL§§ 8101–8107 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 83-MASTERS AND OFFICERS§§ 8301–8304 · 3 sectionsCHAPTER 85-PILOTS§§ 8501–8503 · 3 sectionsCHAPTER 87-UNLICENSED PERSONNEL§§ 8701–8704 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 89-SMALL VESSEL MANNING§§ 8901–8906 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 91-TANK VESSEL MANNING STANDARDS§§ 9101–9102 · 2 sectionsCHAPTER 93-GREAT LAKES PILOTAGE§§ 9301–9308 · 8 sectionsPart G-Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief§§ 10101–11507 · 82 sectionsCHAPTER 101-GENERAL§§ 10101–10105 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 103-FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES§§ 10301–10321 · 21 sectionsCHAPTER 105-COASTWISE VOYAGES§§ 10501–10509 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 106-FISHING VOYAGES§§ 10601–10603 · 3 sectionsCHAPTER 107-EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN§§ 10701–10711 · 10 sectionsCHAPTER 109-PROCEEDINGS ON UNSEAWORTHINESS§§ 10901–10908 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 111-PROTECTION AND RELIEF§§ 11101–11113 · 13 sectionsCHAPTER 112-MERCHANT MARINER BENEFITS§§ 11201–11204 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 113-OFFICIAL LOGBOOKS§§ 11301–11304 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 115-OFFENSES AND PENALTIES§§ 11501–11507 · 7 sectionsPart H-Identification of Vessels§§ 12101–12507 · 47 sectionsCHAPTER 121-DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS§§ 12101–12152 · 31 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 12101–12108 · 8 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-ENDORSEMENTS AND SPECIAL DOCUMENTATION§§ 12111–12121 · 11 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-MISCELLANEOUS§§ 12131–12140 · 10 sectionsSUBCHAPTER IV-PENALTIES§§ 12151–12152 · 2 sectionsCHAPTER 123-NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS§§ 12301–12309 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 125-VESSEL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM§§ 12501–12507 · 7 sectionsPart I-State Boating Safety Programs§§ 13101–13109 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 131-RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY§§ 13101–13109 · 9 sectionsPart J-Measurement of Vessels§§ 14101–14702 · 22 sectionsCHAPTER 141-GENERAL§§ 14101–14104 · 3 sectionsCHAPTER 143-CONVENTION MEASUREMENT§§ 14301–14307 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 145-REGULATORY MEASUREMENT§§ 14501–14522 · 10 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 14501–14504 · 4 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-FORMAL SYSTEMS§§ 14511–14514 · 4 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM§§ 14521–14522 · 2 sectionsCHAPTER 147-PENALTIES§§ 14701–14702 · 2 sectionsPart K-National Maritime Transportation Advisory Committees§§ 15101–15109 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 151-NATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEES§§ 15101–15109 · 9 sectionsSubtitle III-Maritime Liability§§ 30101–31343 · 85 sectionsCHAPTER 301-GENERAL LIABILITY PROVISIONS§§ 30101–30106 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 303-DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS§§ 30301–30308 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 305-EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY§§ 30501–30530 · 12 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL PROVISIONS§§ 30501–30502 · 2 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY§§ 30521–30530 · 10 sectionsCHAPTER 307-LIABILITY OF WATER CARRIERS§§ 30701–30707 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 309-SUITS IN ADMIRALTY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES§§ 30901–30918 · 18 sectionsCHAPTER 311-SUITS INVOLVING PUBLIC VESSELS§§ 31101–31113 · 13 sectionsCHAPTER 313-COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS§§ 31301–31343 · 21 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 31301–31309 · 9 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS§§ 31321–31330 · 9 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-MARITIME LIENS§§ 31341–31343 · 3 sectionsSubtitle IV-Regulation of Ocean Shipping§§ 40101–46108 · 79 sectionsPart A-Ocean Shipping§§ 40101–41310 · 46 sectionsCHAPTER 401-GENERAL§§ 40101–40104 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 403-AGREEMENTS§§ 40301–40307 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 405-TARIFFS, SERVICE CONTRACTS, REFUNDS, AND WAIVERS§§ 40501–40504 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 407-CONTROLLED CARRIERS§§ 40701–40706 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 409-OCEAN TRANSPORTATION INTERMEDIARIES§§ 40901–40904 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 411-PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES§§ 41101–41110 · 11 sectionsCHAPTER 413-ENFORCEMENT§§ 41301–41310 · 10 sectionsPart B-Actions To Address Foreign Practices§§ 42101–42503 · 19 sectionsCHAPTER 421-REGULATIONS AFFECTING SHIPPING IN FOREIGN TRADE§§ 42101–42109 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 423-FOREIGN SHIPPING PRACTICES§§ 42301–42307 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 425-NATIONAL SHIPPER ADVISORY COMMITTEE§§ 42501–42503 · 3 sectionsPart C-Miscellaneous§§ 44101–44106 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 441-EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION§§ 44101–44106 · 6 sectionsPart D-Federal Maritime Commission§§ 46101–46108 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 461-FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION§§ 46101–46108 · 8 sectionsSubtitle V-Merchant Marine§§ 50101–58109 · 308 sectionsPart A-General§§ 50101–50505 · 30 sectionsCHAPTER 501-POLICY, STUDIES, AND REPORTS§§ 50101–50114 · 14 sectionsCHAPTER 503-ADMINISTRATIVE§§ 50301–50309 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 504-COMMITTEES§§ 50401–50402 · 2 sectionsCHAPTER 505-OTHER GENERAL PROVISIONS§§ 50501–50505 · 5 sectionsPart B-Merchant Marine Service§§ 51101–52101 · 60 sectionsCHAPTER 511-GENERAL§§ 51101–51104 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 513-UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY§§ 51301–51328 · 29 sectionsCHAPTER 515-STATE MARITIME ACADEMY SUPPORT PROGRAM§§ 51501–51511 · 11 sectionsCHAPTER 517-OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING§§ 51701–51707 · 7 sectionsCHAPTER 519-MERCHANT MARINE AWARDS§§ 51901–51908 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 521-MISCELLANEOUS§ 52101 · 1 sectionPart C-Financial Assistance Programs§§ 53101–54301 · 101 sectionsCHAPTER 531-MARITIME SECURITY FLEET§§ 53101–53111 · 10 sectionsCHAPTER 532-CABLE SECURITY FLEET§§ 53201–53209 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 533-CONSTRUCTION RESERVE FUNDS§§ 53301–53312 · 12 sectionsCHAPTER 534-TANKER SECURITY FLEET§§ 53401–53412 · 12 sectionsCHAPTER 535-CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS§§ 53501–53517 · 17 sectionsCHAPTER 537-LOANS AND GUARANTEES§§ 53701–53735 · 28 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 53701–53719 · 19 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-DEFAULT PROVISIONS§§ 53721–53725 · 5 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-PARTICULAR PROJECTS§§ 53731–53735 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 539-WAR RISK INSURANCE§§ 53901–53911 · 11 sectionsCHAPTER 541-MISCELLANEOUS§ 54101 · 1 sectionCHAPTER 543-PORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM§ 54301 · 1 sectionPart D-Promotional Programs§§ 55101–55605 · 45 sectionsCHAPTER 551-COASTWISE TRADE§§ 55101–55123 · 23 sectionsCHAPTER 553-PASSENGER AND CARGO PREFERENCES§§ 55301–55336 · 17 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GOVERNMENT IMPELLED TRANSPORTATION§§ 55301–55305 · 5 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-EXPORT TRANSPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES§§ 55311–55318 · 6 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-AMERICAN GREAT LAKES VESSELS§§ 55331–55336 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 556-MARINE HIGHWAYS§§ 55601–55605 · 5 sectionsPart E-Control of Merchant Marine Capabilities§§ 56101–56504 · 21 sectionsCHAPTER 561-RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS§§ 56101–56105 · 5 sectionsCHAPTER 563-EMERGENCY ACQUISITION OF VESSELS§§ 56301–56312 · 12 sectionsCHAPTER 565-ESSENTIAL VESSELS AFFECTED BY NEUTRALITY ACT§§ 56501–56504 · 4 sectionsPart F-Government-Owned Merchant Vessels§§ 57100–57533 · 42 sectionsCHAPTER 571-GENERAL AUTHORITY§§ 57100–57112 · 13 sectionsCHAPTER 573-VESSEL TRADE-IN PROGRAM§§ 57301–57308 · 8 sectionsCHAPTER 575-CONSTRUCTION, CHARTER, AND SALE OF VESSELS§§ 57501–57533 · 21 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 57501–57506 · 6 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-CHARTERS§§ 57511–57522 · 12 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-MISCELLANEOUS§§ 57531–57533 · 3 sectionsPart G-Restrictions and Penalties§§ 58101–58109 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 581-RESTRICTIONS AND PENALTIES§§ 58101–58109 · 9 sectionsSubtitle VI-Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties§§ 60101–60507 · 28 sectionsCHAPTER 601-ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS§§ 60101–60109 · 9 sectionsCHAPTER 603-TONNAGE TAXES AND LIGHT MONEY§§ 60301–60312 · 12 sectionsCHAPTER 605-DISCRIMINATING DUTIES AND RECIPROCAL PRIVILEGES§§ 60501–60507 · 7 sectionsSubtitle VII-Security and Drug Enforcement§§ 70001–70508 · 64 sectionsCHAPTER 700-PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY§§ 70001–70054 · 24 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-VESSEL OPERATIONS§§ 70001–70007 · 7 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY§§ 70011–70014 · 4 sectionsSUBCHAPTER III-CONDITION FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES§§ 70021–70022 · 2 sectionsSUBCHAPTER IV-DEFINITIONS, REGULATIONS, ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATORY POWERS, APPLICABILITY§§ 70031–70036 · 6 sectionsSUBCHAPTER V-REGATTAS AND MARINE PARADES§ 70041 · 1 sectionSUBCHAPTER VI-REGULATION OF VESSELS IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF UNITED STATES§§ 70051–70054 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 701-PORT SECURITY§§ 70101–70132 · 26 sectionsSUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL§§ 70101–70125 · 24 sectionsSUBCHAPTER II-PORT SECURITY ZONES§§ 70131–70132 · 2 sectionsCHAPTER 703-MARITIME SECURITY§§ 70301–70306 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 705-MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT§§ 70501–70508 · 8 sectionsSubtitle VIII-Miscellaneous§§ 80101–80509 · 19 sectionsCHAPTER 801-WRECKS AND SALVAGE§§ 80101–80107 · 6 sectionsCHAPTER 803-ICE AND DERELICTS§§ 80301–80304 · 4 sectionsCHAPTER 805-SAFE CONTAINERS FOR INTERNATIONAL CARGO§§ 80501–80509 · 9 sections

Cite this legislation

Official citation
46 U.S.C.
Source
govinfo.gov
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US-Gov-PublicDomain ↗

SHIPPING (govinfo.gov, US-Gov-PublicDomain). Retrieved via LawPlayer, https://lawplayer.com/us/act/usc-title-46

This text is synced from govinfo.gov. In case of any discrepancy, the official version prevails.

View on govinfo.gov ↗

Text of the U.S. Code 2024 Edition (govinfo), imported 2026-07-04. Amendments enacted after the 2024 Edition are not reflected.

Source: United States Code / CFR (uscode.house.gov, govinfo.gov) — U.S. federal law, public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105).

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