33 U.S.C. § 4101: Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in this chapter. It says what each important term means so people know how to use them. "Administration" means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Administrator" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who runs NOAA. "Cooperative activities of the Administration" means work NOAA does with outside partners, like Cooperative Institutes, Sea Grant Colleges, National Estuarine Research Reserves, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (established under chapter 665 of title 10), and regional Integrated Ocean Observing System groups. "Data specifications" means the type, detail, timing, and quality of data a NOAA program needs. "Test or training range" means an area used to operate systems to test them or train people, and it can include fixed or portable instruments. "Unmanned maritime systems" means commercial remotely controlled or autonomous vehicles that operate without people aboard and their related control, sensors, and data systems; this includes unmanned undersea and surface vehicles and autonomous undersea and surface vehicles, and can include aerial drones when NOAA’s leader decides they are needed.

Title 33, §4101

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:

(1)Administration

The term “Administration” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2)Administrator (3) Cooperative activities of the Administration

The term “Administrator” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(4)Data specifications

The term “data specifications” shall refer to the type, resolution, periodicity, and quality of data required by an program of the Administration.

(5)Test or training range

(A)In general

The term “test or training range” means an area designated for operating unmanned maritime systems and other types of systems for the purpose of— (i)

(ii)training personnel on operating procedures for such systems.

(B)Inclusions

The term “test or training range” may include specialized fixed or portable instrumentation for the operation of unmanned maritime systems and other types of systems.

(6)Unmanned maritime systems

(A)In general

The term “unmanned maritime systems” means remotely operated or autonomous vehicles produced by the commercial sector— (i)

(ii)that may include associated components such as control and communications, instrumentation, data transmission, and processing systems.

(B)Examples

The term “unmanned maritime systems” includes the following:

(i)Unmanned undersea vehicles.

(ii)Unmanned surface vehicles.

(iii)Autonomous underwater vehicles.

(iv)Autonomous surface vehicles.

(C)Treatment of aerial vehicles

The term “unmanned maritime systems” includes unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous aerial vehicles that are used to address maritime issues to the extent the Administrator determines it is necessary and appropriate to achieve the purposes of this chapter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 115–394, § 1(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5281, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of 2018’ or the ‘CENOTE Act of 2018’.” Pilot Program for Governance and Oversight of Small Uncrewed Maritime Systems Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7331, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1771, provided that: “(a) Limitation.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025] and ending on the date that is 2 years after such date of enactment, small uncrewed maritime systems owned, operated, or chartered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or that are performing specified oceanographic surveys on behalf of and pursuant to a contract or other written agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall not be subject to any vessel inspection, design, operations, navigation, credentialing, or training requirement, law, or regulation, that the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determines will harm real-time operational extreme weather oceanographic and atmospheric data collection and predictions. “(b) Other Authority.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, acting through the Commandant, if there is an immediate safety or security concern regarding small uncrewed maritime systems. “(c) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Small uncrewed maritime systems.—The term ‘small uncrewed maritime systems’ means unmanned maritime systems (as defined in section 2 of the CENOTE Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 4101)), that—“(A) are not greater than 35 feet overall in length; “(B) are operated remotely or autonomously; and “(C) exclusively perform oceanographic surveys or scientific research. “(2) Uncrewed system.—The term ‘uncrewed system’—“(A) means an uncrewed surface, undersea, or aircraft system and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the uncrewed system) that are required for the operator to operate the system safely and efficiently; and “(B) includes an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code). “(d) Savings Clause.—Nothing in this section may be construed to repeal, replace, or preclude application of chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code.”

§4101 Definitions

Summary

Title 33, §4101

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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Citations & Metadata