§55112 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

Only U.S. vessels may act as escort vessels in U.S. navigable waters unless a vessel is in distress. That rule applies to escorts that start or finish at a U.S. port, escorts required by U.S. law or regulation, and escorts that operate in or approach navigation facilities run by the U.S. government (except the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation on the St. Lawrence River part of the Seaway). An escort vessel is one assigned to help another ship as a safety measure — to control speed or course if steering or propulsion fails, or to aid maneuvering in tight waters. For towed ships under section 55111, it also includes any extra vessel assigned to the towed ship. It does not change section 55111. Anyone who breaks the rule can be fined up to $10,000 for each day of the violation.

Title 46, §55112

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except in the case of a vessel in distress, only a vessel of the United States may perform the following escort vessel operations within the navigable waters of the United States:

(1)Operations that commence or terminate at a port or place in the United States.

(2)Operations required by United States law or regulation.

(3)Operations provided in whole or in part within or through navigation facilities owned, maintained, or operated by the United States Government or the approaches to those facilities, other than facilities operated by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation on the St. Lawrence River portion of the Seaway.

(b)For purposes of this section, an escort vessel is—

(1)any vessel that is assigned and dedicated to assist another vessel, whether or not tethered to that vessel, solely as a safety precaution to assist in controlling the speed or course of the assisted vessel in the event of a steering or propulsion equipment failure, or any other similar emergency circumstance, or in restricted waters where additional assistance in maneuvering the vessel is required to ensure its safe operation; and

(2)in the case of a vessel being towed under section 55111 of this title, any vessel that is assigned and dedicated to the vessel being towed in addition to any towing vessel required under that section.

(c)This section does not affect section 55111 of this title.

(d)A person violating this section is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day during which the violation occurs.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5511246 App.:316a.Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 404, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2114. In subsection (a), the words “(as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code)” are omitted because the definition of “vessel of the United States” is being moved from section 2101 to chapter 1 of the revised title and will apply title-wide.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”.

§55112 Vessel escort operations and towing assistance