§3802 Covered Vessels

Summary

After the Convention takes effect for the United States, the rules in this chapter must be followed by certain vessels. That includes vessels with U.S. documentation under 46 U.S.C. 121 or any vessel operated under U.S. authority, wherever they are. It also covers vessels a federal agency allows to work on the Outer Continental Shelf. Other vessels are covered while they are in U.S. internal waters, in a U.S. port, shipyard, offshore terminal, or other place in the United States, while lightering in the territorial sea, or while anchoring in the territorial sea as allowed by international law. Ships owned or used by a foreign government for noncommercial government service, such as warships or naval auxiliaries, are not covered. U.S. government warships and naval auxiliaries used only for noncommercial government service are also not covered, unless the Administrator applies the chapter to a class of those U.S. vessels with the agreement of the department or agency that operates them. The Administrator may not apply the chapter to combat-related vessels.