§3802 Covered vessels

Summary

Once the Convention takes effect for the United States, certain ships must follow the rules in this chapter. That includes any U.S.-documented ship or any ship operating under U.S. authority, any ship allowed by a federal agency to work on the Outer Continental Shelf, and any other ship while it is in U.S. internal waters, in U.S. ports, shipyards, offshore terminals or other U.S. places, or while lightering or anchoring in the U.S. territorial sea (as allowed by international law). Foreign warships, naval auxiliaries, and other government ships used only for non‑commercial government service are not covered. U.S. warships and similar government ships are also excluded unless a department head agrees and the Administrator applies the rules to certain classes; combat-related vessels are never covered.