Title 46 of the United States Code


Title 46 of the United States Code, titled "Shipping", outlines the federal laws contained within the United States Code that pertain to the shipping industry. It was gradually codified into the Positive Law of the United States, with partial codifications being enacted in the years 1988, 2002, and 2003. The title was fully codified into the Positive Law on October 6, 2006, when then-President George W. Bush signed into law.
Portions of the U.S.C. labeled "transferred" have been moved to another title of the United States code either via an Act of Congress or by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. The size of chapters of law vary - some contain several sections, and some contain just a few.

Outline of title 46

Subtitle I — General

  • — Definitions
  • — Transferred
  • — Other General Provisions

Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen

  • — General Provisions
  • * — General
  • * — Operation of Vessels Generally
  • — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels
  • * — General
  • * — Management of Vessels
  • * — Inspection Generally
  • * — Carriage of Passengers
  • * — Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes
  • * — Repealed
  • * — Uninspected Vessels Generally
  • * — Recreational Vessels
  • * — Uninspected Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels
  • * — Abandonment of Barges
  • * — Oceangoing Non-Passenger Commercial Vessels
  • — Load Lines of Vessels
  • * — Load Lines
  • — Marine Casualties
  • * — Reporting Marine Casualties
  • * — Investigating Marine Casualties
  • — Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents
  • * — Licenses and Certificates of Registry
  • * — Merchant Mariners' Documents
  • * — General Procedures for Licensing, Certification, and Documentation
  • * — Suspension and Revocation
  • — Manning of Vessels
  • * — General
  • * — Masters and Officers
  • * — Pilots
  • * — Unlicensed Personnel
  • * — Small Vessel Manning
  • * — Tank Vessel Manning Standards
  • * — Great Lakes Pilotage
  • — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief
  • * — General
  • * — Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages
  • * — Coastwise Voyages
  • * — Fishing Voyages
  • * — Effects of Deceased Seamen
  • * — Proceedings on Unseaworthiness
  • * — Protection and Relief
  • * — Merchant Mariner Benefits
  • * — Official Logbooks
  • * — Offenses and Penalties
  • — Identification of Vessels
  • * — Documentation of Vessels
  • * — Numbering Undocumented Vessels
  • * — Vessel Identification System
  • — State Boating Safety Programs
  • * — Recreational Boating Safety
  • — Measurement of Vessels
  • * — General
  • * — Convention Measurement
  • * — Regulatory Measurement
  • * — Penalties
  • — National Maritime Transportation Advisory Committees
  • * — National Maritime Transportation Advisory Committees

Subtitle III — Maritime Liability

  • — General Liability Provisions
  • — Death on the High Seas
  • — Exoneration and Limitation of Liability
  • — Liability of Water Carriers
  • — Suits in Admiralty Against the United States
  • — Suits Involving Public Vessels
  • — Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens

Subtitle IV — Regulation of Ocean Shipping

  • — Ocean Shipping
  • * — General
  • * — Agreements
  • * — Tariffs, Service Contracts, Refunds, and Waivers
  • * — Controlled Carriers
  • * — Ocean Transportation Intermediaries
  • * — Prohibitions and Penalties
  • * — Enforcement
  • — Actions To Address Foreign Practices
  • * — Regulations Affecting Shipping in Foreign Trade
  • * — Foreign Shipping Practices
  • * — National Shipper Advisory Committee
  • — Miscellaneous
  • * — Evidence of Financial Responsibility for Passenger Transportation
  • — Federal Maritime Commission
  • * — Federal Maritime Commission

Subtitle V — Merchant Marine

  • — General
  • * — Policy, Studies, and Reports
  • * — Administrative
  • * — Committees
  • * — Other General Provisions
  • — Merchant Marine Service
  • * — General
  • * — United States Merchant Marine Academy
  • * — State Maritime Academy Support Program
  • * — Other Support for Merchant Marine Training
  • * — Merchant Marine Awards
  • * — Miscellaneous
  • — Financial Assistance Programs
  • * — Maritime Security Fleet
  • * — Cable Security Fleet
  • * — Construction Reserve Funds
  • * — Tanker Security Fleet
  • * — Capital Construction Funds
  • * — Loans and Guarantees
  • * — War Risk Insurance
  • * — Miscellaneous
  • * — Port Infrastructure Development Program
  • — Promotional Programs
  • * — Coastwise Trade
  • * — Passenger and Cargo Preferences
  • * — Transferred
  • * — Marine Highways
  • — Control of Merchant Marine Capabilities
  • * — Restrictions on Transfers
  • * — Emergency Acquisition of Vessels
  • * — Essential Vessels Affected by Neutrality Act
  • — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels
  • * — General Authority
  • * — Vessel Trade-In Program
  • * — Construction, Charter, and Sale of Vessels
  • — Restrictions and Penalties
  • * — Restrictions and Penalties

Subtitle VI — Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties

  • — Arrival and Departure Requirements
  • — Tonnage Taxes and Light Money
  • — Discriminating Duties and Reciprocal Privileges

Subtitle VII — Security and Drug Enforcement

  • — Ports and Waterways Safety
  • — Port Security
  • — Maritime Security
  • — Maritime Drug Law Enforcement

Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous

  • — Wrecks and Salvage
  • — Ice and Derelicts
  • — Safe Containers for International Cargo