Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§12108 Authority to Extend Duration of Vessel Certificates
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part H — Identification of Vessels › CHAPTER 121 — DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL › § 12108
Summary
The Secretary in charge of the Coast Guard can extend a vessel’s expiring certificate of documentation for up to 1 year if the vessel meets the inspection rules in section 3313 and the Secretary finds the extra time is needed to clear a backlog of applications or to respond to a national emergency or natural disaster. The extension can be for a single vessel or for a specifically named group of vessels.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §12108
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Certificates.—
Provided a vessel is in compliance with inspection requirements in section 3313, the Secretary of the department in which in the Coast Guard is operating may, if the Secretary makes the determination described in subsection (b), extend, for a period of not more than 1 year, an expiring certificate of documentation issued for a vessel under chapter 121.
(b)Determination.—
The determination referred to in subsection (a) is a determination that such extension is required to enable the Coast Guard to—
(1)eliminate a backlog in processing applications for such certificates; or
(2)act in response to a national emergency or natural disaster.
(c)Manner of Extension.—
Any extension granted under this section may be granted to individual vessels or to a specifically identified group of vessels.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 12108
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110