Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§4505 Termination of unsafe operations

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS › § 4505

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

An enforcing official can order the person in charge of a covered vessel to immediately take reasonable actions to protect people aboard if the official sees the vessel being operated in a condition the official believes is especially dangerous. The official can require the vessel to return to a mooring and stay there until the danger is fixed. The official can also order an uninspected fish-processing vessel that lacks the certificate required by section 4503(a)(2) to return to and remain at a mooring until it meets that requirement, except for vessels covered by section 4503a.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §4505

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An official authorized to enforce this chapter—
(1)may direct the individual in charge of a vessel to which this chapter applies to immediately take reasonable steps necessary for the safety of individuals on board the vessel if the official observes the vessel being operated in an unsafe condition that the official believes creates an especially hazardous condition, including ordering the individual in charge to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain there until the situation creating the hazard is corrected or ended; and
(2)may order the individual in charge of an uninspected fish processing vessel that does not have on board the certificate required under section 4503(a)(2) of this title to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain there until the vessel is in compliance with that section, except that this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a vessel to which section 4503a 11 See References in Text note below. applies.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 4503a, referred to in par. (2), was repealed by Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11509(a)(3), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4137.

Amendments

2018—Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–282 substituted “4503(a)(2)” for “4503(1)” and inserted “, except that this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a vessel to which section 4503a applies” before period at end.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 4505

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73