USC Subchapter III

in effect

46 U.S.C. § 12131 Command of documented vessels

(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), a documented vessel may be placed under the command only of a citizen or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) of the United States. (b) Exceptions.—Subsection (a) does not apply to—(1) a vessel with only a recreational endorsement; or (2) an unmanned barge operating outside of the territorial waters of the United States.

46 U.S.C. § 12132 Loss of coastwise trade privileges

(a) Sold Foreign or Placed Under Foreign Registry.—A vessel of more than 200 gross tons (as measured under chapter 143 of this title), eligible to engage in the coastwise trade, and later sold foreign in whole or in part or placed under foreign registry may not thereafter engage in the coastwise trade. (b) Rebuilt Outside the United States.—A vessel eligible to engage in the coastwise trade and later rebuilt outside the United States may not thereafter engage in the coastwise trade.

46 U.S.C. § 12133 Duty to carry certificate on vessel and allow examination

(a) Duty To Carry.—The certificate of documentation of a vessel shall be carried on the vessel unless the vessel is exempt by regulation from carrying the certificate. (b) Availability.—The owner or individual in charge of a vessel required to carry its certificate of documentation shall make the certificate available for examination at the request of an officer enforcing the revenue laws or as otherwise required by law or regulation. (c) Criminal Penalty.—A person willfully violating subsection (b) shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

46 U.S.C. § 12134 Evidentiary uses of documentation

A certificate of documentation is— (1) conclusive evidence of nationality for international purposes, but not in a proceeding conducted under the laws of the United States; (2) conclusive evidence of qualification to engage in a specified trade; and (3) not conclusive evidence of ownership in a proceeding in which ownership is in issue.

46 U.S.C. § 12135 Invalidation of certificates of documentation

A certificate of documentation or an endorsement on the certificate is invalid if the vessel for which it is issued— (1) no longer meets the requirements of this chapter and regulations prescribed under this chapter applicable to the certificate or endorsement; or (2) is placed under the command of an individual not a citizen or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) of the United States in violation of section 12131 of this title.

46 U.S.C. § 12136 Surrender of certificates of documentation

(a) Surrender.—An invalid certificate of documentation, or a certificate with an invalid endorsement, shall be surrendered as provided by regulations prescribed by the Secretary. (b) Conditions for Surrender.—(1) Vessels over 1,000 tons.—The Secretary may condition approval of the surrender of the certificate of documentation for a vessel over 1,000 gross tons. (2) Vessels covered by mortgage.—The Secretary may approve the surrender of the certificate of documentation of a vessel covered by a mortgage filed or recorded under section 31321 of this title only if the mortgagee consents. (3) Notice of lien.—The Secretary may not refuse to approve the surrender of the certificate of documentation for a vessel solely on the basis that a notice of a claim of a lien on the vessel has been recorded under section 31343(a) of this title. (c) Continued Application of Certain Laws.—(1) In general.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), until the certificate of documentation is surrendered with the approval of the Secretary, a documented vessel is deemed to continue to be documented under this chapter for purposes of—(A) chapter 313 of this title for an instrument filed or recorded before the date of invalidation and an assignment after that date; (B) sections 56101 and 56102(a)(2) and chapter 563 of this title; and (C) any other law of the United States identified by the Secretary by regulation as a law to which the Secretary applies this subsection. (2) Exception.—This subsection does not apply when a vessel is forfeited or sold by order of a district court of the United States.

46 U.S.C. § 12137 Recording of vessels built in the United States

The Secretary may provide for recording and certifying information about vessels built in the United States that the Secretary considers to be in the public interest.

46 U.S.C. § 12138 List of documented vessels

(a) In General.—The Secretary shall publish periodically a list of all documented vessels and information about those vessels that the Secretary considers pertinent or useful. The list shall contain a notation clearly indicating all vessels classed by the American Bureau of Shipping. (b) Vessels for Cable Laying, Maintenance, and Repair.—(1) In general.—The Secretary of Transportation shall develop, maintain, and periodically update an inventory of vessels that are documented under this chapter, are at least 200 feet in length, and have the capability to lay, maintain, or repair a submarine cable, without regard to whether a particular vessel is classed as a cable ship or cable vessel. (2) Information to be included.—For each vessel listed in the inventory, the Secretary of Transportation shall include in the inventory—(A) the name, length, beam, depth, and other distinguishing characteristics of the vessel; (B) the abilities and limitations of the vessel with respect to laying, maintaining, and repairing a submarine cable; and (C) the name and address of the person to whom inquiries regarding the vessel may be made. (3) Publication.—The Secretary of Transportation shall publish in the Federal Register an updated inventory every 6 months.

46 U.S.C. § 12139 Reports

(a) In General.—To ensure compliance with this chapter and laws governing the qualifications of vessels to engage in the coastwise trade and the fisheries, the Secretary may require owners, masters, charterers, and mortgagees of documented vessels to submit reports in any reasonable form and manner the Secretary may prescribe. (b) Vessels Rebuilt Outside United States.—(1) In general.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if a vessel exceeding the tonnage specified in paragraph (2) and documented or last documented under the laws of the United States is rebuilt outside the United States, the owner or master shall submit a report of the rebuilding to the Secretary. (2) Tonnage.—The tonnage referred to in paragraph (1) is—(A) 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title; or (B) an alternate tonnage as measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title. (3) Timing of submission.—If the rebuilding is completed in the United States, the report shall be submitted when the rebuilding is completed. If the rebuilding is completed outside the United States, the report shall be submitted when the vessel first arrives at a port in the customs territory of the United States.

46 U.S.C. § 12140 Investigations by Secretary

(a) In General.—The Secretary may conduct investigations and inspections regarding compliance with this chapter and regulations prescribed under this chapter. (b) Authority To Obtain Evidence.—(1) In general.—For the purposes of any investigation conducted under this section, the Secretary may issue a subpoena to require the attendance of a witness or the production of documents or other evidence relevant to the matter under investigation if—(A) before the issuance of the subpoena, the Secretary requests a determination by the Attorney General as to whether the subpoena—(i) is reasonable; and (ii) will interfere with a criminal investigation; and (B) the Attorney General—(i) determines that the subpoena is reasonable and will not interfere with a criminal investigation; or (ii) fails to make a determination with respect to the subpoena before the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes a request under subparagraph (A) with respect to the subpoena. (2) Enforcement.—In the case of a refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person under this section, the Secretary may invoke the aid of the appropriate district court of the United States to compel compliance.