Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§10301 Application

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › CHAPTER 103 — FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES › § 10301

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Covers U.S. vessels on certain trips. It applies when a U.S. ship sails between a U.S. port and a foreign port (but not if that foreign port is in Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies), or when a vessel of at least 75 gross tons (measured under the law’s rules) sails between a U.S. Atlantic port and a U.S. Pacific port. It does not apply to ships whose crew share in the voyage’s profits, to workers who ride along with the ship, or to foreign vessels unless another rule says it does.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §10301

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as otherwise specifically provided, this chapter applies to a vessel of the United States—
(1)on a voyage between a port in the United States and a port in a foreign country (except a port in Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies); or
(2)of at least 75 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title on a voyage between a port of the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and a port of the United States on the Pacific Ocean.
(b)This chapter does not apply to a vessel on which the seamen are entitled by custom or agreement to share in the profit or result of a voyage or to riding gang members.
(c)Unless otherwise provided, this chapter does not apply to a foreign vessel.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1030146:56446:56646:574 section 10301 specifies that vessels on foreign and intercoastal voyages (except for fishing vessels and foreign vessels) are subject to the seamen protection and relief provisions contained in chapter 103.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–241 inserted “or to riding gang members” after “voyage”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “75 gross tons”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 10301

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102