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LegalText 46 U.S.C. § 12103 General eligibility requirements us united_states_code code_section 46 SHIPPING 121 DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS 12103 46 U.S.C. § 12103 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/s12103 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml 922c90e9c9fcc21c3e500d48d4cdb4e6f1d6231f31184eb4f5508fca9fdffb97 eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f 61e545e716b2e710c9c381b95431b7bec92243a7cbbd1fcd197b3108e5aa4028 2026-07-04 official
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46 U.S.C. § 12103 - General eligibility requirements

Text

(a) In General.— Except as otherwise provided, a certificate of documentation for a vessel may be issued under this chapter only if the vessel is—

(1) wholly owned by one or more individuals or entities described in subsection (b);

(2) at least 5 net tons as measured under part J of this subtitle; and

(3) not documented under the laws of a foreign country.

(b) Eligible Owners.— For purposes of subsection (a)(1), the following are eligible owners:

(1) An individual who is a citizen of the United States.

(2) An association, trust, joint venture, or other entity if—

(A) each of its members is a citizen of the United States; and

(B) it is capable of holding title to a vessel under the laws of the United States or a State.

(3) A partnership if—

(A) each general partner is a citizen of the United States; and

(B) the controlling interest in the partnership is owned by citizens of the United States.

(4) A corporation if—

(A) it is incorporated under the laws of the United States or a State;

(B) its chief executive officer, by whatever title, and the chairman of its board of directors are citizens of the United States; and

(C) no more of its directors are noncitizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.

(5) The United States Government.

(6) The government of a State.

(c) Temporary Certificates Prior to Measurement.— Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2), the Secretary may issue a temporary certificate of documentation for a vessel before it is measured.

(Pub. L. 109304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1492.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 12103(a)46:12102(a) (less ownership), (b) (1st sentence). 12103(b)46:12102(a) (related to ownership) 12103(c)46:12102(b) (last sentence).

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 12103, Pub. L. 9889, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 100710, title I, § 104(a)(4), (6), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4750; Pub. L. 101225, title III, § 301(a)(3), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1920; Pub. L. 102388, title III, § 348(c)(1), Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1554; Pub. L. 102587, title V, § 5213(a)(1), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5077; Pub. L. 107295, title IV, § 422(a), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2125, originally derived from section 65e of former Title 46, Shipping, related to certificates of documentation, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109304. See sections 12104, 12105, and 12133 of this title. A prior section 12103a, added Pub. L. 107295, title IV, § 422(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2125, related to issuance of temporary certificate of documentation by third parties, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109304. See section 12105 of this title.