Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§2109 Public vessels

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part A— - General Provisions › Chapter CHAPTER 21— - GENERAL › § 2109

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

These rules usually do not apply to U.S. public vessels. They do apply, however, to any vessel owned or operated by the Department of Transportation or by a corporation it controls, except vessels of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §2109

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Except as otherwise provided, this subtitle does not apply to a public vessel of the United States. However, this subtitle does apply to a vessel (except a Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation vessel) owned or operated by the Department of Transportation or by any corporation organized or controlled by the Department.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 210946:36246:36346:391a(4) section 2109 exempts public vessels from the applicability of the maritime safety and seamen’s welfare laws of this subtitle although some public vessels are inspected under interagency voluntary agreements.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”. 2010—Pub. L. 111–281 amended directory language of Pub. L. 109–241, § 902(e)(1). See 2006 Amendment note below. 2006—Pub. L. 109–241, § 902(e)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 111–281, struck out “a Coast Guard or” after “(except”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–509 substituted “Except as otherwise provided, this” for “This”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 Amendment Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 903(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3010, provided that the amendment by section 903(a)(5)(A) is effective with enactment of Pub. L. 109–241.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 2109

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73