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LegalText 46 U.S.C. § 12102 Vessels requiring documentation us united_states_code code_section 46 SHIPPING 121 DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS 12102 46 U.S.C. § 12102 current 119-100 2026-06-26 official https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip /us/usc/t46/s12102 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml c9f8ae3d106d0a3c80c87deddb4c1efc340fc64dd2995e3d19933b3aff95628b eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f d2723eb4fb319c6d2f9795d2616b27c096ee9da2ed7ebd390037d14ba6699549 2026-07-04 official
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46 U.S.C. § 12102 - Vessels requiring documentation

Text

(a) In General.— Except as otherwise provided, a vessel may engage in a trade only if the vessel has been issued a certificate of documentation with an endorsement for that trade under this chapter.

(b) Vessels Less Than 5 Net Tons.— A vessel of less than 5 net tons may engage in a trade without being documented if the vessel otherwise satisfies the requirements to engage in the particular trade.

(c) Barges.— A barge qualified to engage in the coastwise trade may engage in the coastwise trade, without being documented, on rivers, harbors, lakes (except the Great Lakes), canals, and inland waters.

(d) Aquaculture Waiver.— (1) Permitting of nonqualified vessels to perform certain aquaculture support operations.— Notwithstanding section 12113 and any other law, the Secretary of Transportation may issue a waiver allowing a documented vessel with a registry endorsement or a foreign flag vessel to be used in operations that treat aquaculture fish for or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic infestation, or other threats to their health if the Secretary finds, after publishing a notice in the Federal Register, that a suitable vessel of the United States is not available that could perform those services.

(2) Prohibition.— Vessels operating under a waiver issued under this subsection may not engage in any coastwise transportation.

(Pub. L. 109304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1492; Pub. L. 111281, title IX, § 901(c)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3008.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 12102(a)46:12106(b). 46:12108(b). 46:12110(a). 12102(b)46:12102(a) (related to tonnage). 12102(c)46:12110(b).

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 12102, Pub. L. 9889, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 99509, title V, § 5102(b)(6), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1927; Pub. L. 100239, § 7(a), Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1782; Pub. L. 100710, title I, § 104(a)(4), (5), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4750; Pub. L. 101225, title III, § 301(a)(2), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1920; Pub. L. 104324, title XI, § 1136(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3986; Pub. L. 105277, div. C, title II, § 202(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681617; Pub. L. 105383, title IV, §§ 401(a)(1), 421, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3424, 3439; Pub. L. 10720, title II, § 2202(a), July 24, 2001, 115 Stat. 168; Pub. L. 107206, title I, § 1103, Aug. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 884; Pub. L. 108136, div. C, title XXXV, § 3534(b)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1818, originally derived from section 65b of former Title 46, Shipping, related to vessels eligible for documentation, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109304. See this section and sections 12103, 12111, and 12113 of this title.

Amendments2010—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111281 added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

RegulationsPub. L. 111281, title IX, § 901(c)(2), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3008, provided that: “The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall, in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, and after public notice and comment, promulgate regulations necessary and appropriate to implement this subsection [amending this section]. The Secretary may grant interim permits pending the issuance of such regulations upon receipt of applications containing the required information.”