Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§875 Powers of officers as notaries

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 17— - NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 875

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Give NOAA ship commanders and other NOAA officers picked by the Commerce Secretary the power to act as notaries in places outside any single continental U.S. state (Alaska excluded). They can swear people in, sign and certify papers, and do other notary tasks, but only for NOAA staff or NOAA business.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §875

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In places where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is serving which are not within the jurisdiction of any one of the States of the continental United States, excluding Alaska, commanding officers of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessels, and such other officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Secretary of Commerce may designate, may exercise the general powers of the notary public in the administration of oaths for the execution, acknowledgment, and attestation of instruments and papers, and the performance of all other notarial acts. The powers conferred shall be limited to acts performed in behalf of the personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or in connection with the proper execution of the functions of that agency.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1960—Pub. L. 86–624 substituted “the States of the continental United States, excluding Alaska” for “the several States”.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Coast and Geodetic Survey consolidated with Weather Bureau to form a new agency in Department of Commerce to be known as Environmental Science Services Administration, and commissioned officers of Survey transferred to ESSA, by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318, set out as a note under section 851 of this title. The Reorg. Plan also transferred to Secretary of Commerce all functions of Coast and Geodetic Survey and Director of Survey. Subsequently, Environmental Science Services Administration abolished, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established, and Commissioned Officer Corps of ESSA redesignated Commissioned Officer Corps of NOAA by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. For further details, see note set out under section 851 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 875

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73