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§3701 Definitions

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES › § 3701

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines three key words used in the chapter: "existing," "new," and "person." "Existing" means a vessel that is not "new." "New" means a vessel that meets any of these date-based tests: its building contract was made after June 1, 1979; without a contract, its keel was laid or it reached a similar construction stage after January 1, 1980; it was delivered after June 1, 1982; or it had a major conversion or construction tied to those same dates. "Person" means an individual (citizenship not required), a corporation, partnership, association, other entity, the U.S. Government, a State or local government, a foreign government, or an entity of any of those governments.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §3701

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In this chapter—
(1)“existing”, when referring to a type of vessel to which this chapter applies, means a vessel that is not a new vessel.
(2)“new”, when referring to a type of vessel to which this chapter applies, means a vessel—
(A)for which the building contract is placed after June 1, 1979;
(B)in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, after January 1, 1980;
(C)the delivery of which is after June 1, 1982; or
(D)that has undergone a major conversion under a contract made after June 1, 1979, or construction work that began after January 1, 1980, or was completed after June 1, 1982.
(3)“person” means an individual (even if not a citizen or national of the United States), a corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (even if not organized or existing under the laws of a State), the United States Government, a State or local government, a government of a foreign country, or an entity of one of those governments.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 3701(1)46:391a(2)(R) 3701(2)46:391a(2)(P) 3701(3)46:391a(2)(Q) 3701(4)46:391a(2)(F) 3701(5)46:391a(2)(J) 3701(6)46:391a(2)(K) section 3701 contains definitions that are of a special nature with limited applicability to this chapter.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pars. (2) to (4). Pub. L. 115–232 redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (2) and (3), respectively. 1988—Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–424 struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “ ‘major conversion’ means a conversion of an existing vessel that substantially changes the dimensions or carrying capacity of the vessel or changes the type of vessel or substantially prolongs its life or that otherwise so changes the vessel that it is essentially a new vessel, as decided by the Secretary.” 1986—Pars. (5), (6). Pub. L. 99–509 struck out par. (5) defining “State” as including Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in addition to its meaning under section 2101(36) of this title, and struck out par. (6) defining “United States” as including the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in addition to its meaning under section 2101(44) of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Chapter effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 3701

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Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73