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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§3102 Immersion suits

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - GENERAL › § 3102

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must require immersion suits on vessels the Secretary picks when they operate in these areas: the Atlantic Ocean north of 32° North latitude or south of 32° South latitude, and all other waters north of 35° North latitude or south of 35° South latitude. A vessel cannot be kept out of that list just because it has other lifesaving gear. The Secretary must set rules so suits give enough warmth, buoyancy, and flotation stability. If an owner, charterer, manager, agent, captain, or person in charge breaks these rules, they can face a civil fine up to $5,000 and the vessel can be held responsible. They can also face criminal penalties: a fine up to $25,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §3102

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall by regulation require immersion suits on vessels designated by the Secretary that operate in the Atlantic Ocean north of 32 degrees North latitude or south of 32 degrees South latitude and in all other waters north of 35 degrees North latitude or south of 35 degrees South latitude. The Secretary may not exclude a vessel from designation under this section only because that vessel carries other lifesaving equipment.
(b)The Secretary shall establish standards for an immersion suit required by this section, including standards to guarantee adequate thermal protection, buoyance, and flotation stability.
(c)(1)The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
(2)The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section may be fined not more than $25,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Pub. L. 98–557 and Pub. L. 98–623 enacted identical section 3102 of this title. section 22 of Pub. L. 98–557, which enacted first identical section 3102 of this title, was repealed by section 2 of Pub. L. 99–36, set out below as a Repeal of Duplicate Section note.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–424 substituted “Immersion” for “Exposure” in section catchline, and “immersion” for “exposure” in subsecs. (a) and (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Duplicate section 3102; References Thereto and

Regulations

and Actions Thereunder Pub. L. 99–36, § 2, May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 68, provided that: “section 22 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1984 (Public Law 98–557; 98 Stat. 2871), and the

Amendments

made by such section [enacting first identical section 3102 of this title and provisions set out as a note under this section and amending the analysis of chapter 31 of this title], are repealed as of November 8, 1984.

Regulations

prescribed and actions taken under, and references to, such section and the

Amendments

made by such section are deemed to be

Regulations

prescribed and actions taken under, and references to, section 701 of the Act of November 8, 1984 (Public Law 98–623; 98 Stat. 3413), and the

Amendments

made by such section 701 [enacting second identical section 3102 of this title and provisions set out as a note under this section and amending the analysis of chapter 31 of this title].”

Regulations

Pub. L. 98–623, title VII, § 701(b), (c), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3413, provided: “(b) Section 3102 of title 46, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), does not limit the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe

Regulations

requiring exposure suits on vessels not required by section 3102 to have exposure suits. “(c) The

Regulations

prescribed under section 3102 of title 46, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), shall be effective not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this title [Nov. 8, 1984].” [

Regulations

effective Dec. 30, 1984, see 49 F.R. 50722, Dec. 31, 1984.] [For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.] Similar provisions were contained in section 22(b), (c) of Pub. L. 98–557, which was repealed by section 2 of Pub. L. 99–36, set out above as a Repeal of Duplicate Section note.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 3102

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73