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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§14522 Measurement

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part J— - Measurement of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 145— - REGULATORY MEASUREMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM › § 14522

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give every vessel a gross tonnage and a net tonnage number. Length means the hull’s horizontal distance from the very front to the very back, not counting fittings. The Secretary uses length, breadth, depth, other measurements, and appropriate factors to figure tonnages, and must set the rules for how to measure (except length) and which factors to use. Gross tonnage should generally match a vessel’s internal volume compared with others. Net tonnage should be about the same ratio to gross tonnage as for similar vessels measured under subchapter II. Under rules the Secretary makes, one vessel can be measured for a class, and its tonnages assigned to other vessels of that same class.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §14522

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “length” means the horizontal distance of the hull between the foremost part of the stem and the aftermost part of the stern, excluding fittings and attachments.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall assign gross and net tonnages to a vessel based on its length, breadth, depth, other dimensions, and appropriate coefficients.
(2)The Secretary shall prescribe the way dimensions (except length) are measured and which coefficients are appropriate.
(c)The resulting gross tonnages, taken as a group, reasonably shall reflect the relative internal volumes of the vessels measured under this subchapter. The resulting net tonnages shall be in approximately the same ratios to corresponding gross tonnages as are the net and gross tonnages of comparable vessels measured under subchapter II of this chapter.
(d)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary may determine the gross and net tonnages of a vessel representative of a designated class, model, or type, and then assign those gross and net tonnages to other vessels of the same class, model, or type.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14522 Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 71. section 14522(a) defines the term “length” as it is used in the simplified measurement system. section 14522(b) requires the Secretary to assign gross and net tonnages under the simplified system, based on a vessel’s length, breadth, depth, other dimensions and appropriate coefficients, as the Secretary deems appropriate. section 14522(c) provides that the gross tonnages as measured under this section shall reflect the relative internal volumes of vessels. It provides further that the net tonnages measured under this section shall be in approximately the same ratio to corresponding gross tonnages as are the net and gross tonnages of comparable vessels measured under the standard regulatory measurement system.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 14522

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73