Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§12116 Limited Endorsements for Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part H — Identification of Vessels › CHAPTER 121 — DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER II — ENDORSEMENTS AND SPECIAL DOCUMENTATION › § 12116

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows vessels to get a coastwise endorsement to carry fish products between places in Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, or a fishery endorsement to fish in the nearby territorial sea and fishery conservation zone. To qualify, a vessel must meet section 12103, must not have been built in the United States (and for the fishery endorsement also must not have been rebuilt there), be under 200 gross tons as measured under section 14502 or meet the alternate tonnage rules in sections 14302 and 14104, and otherwise qualify under U.S. law.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §12116

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Endorsements.—
A vessel satisfying the requirements of subsection (b) may be issued—
(1)a coastwise endorsement to engage in the coastwise trade of fisheries products between places in Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands; or
(2)a fishery endorsement to engage in fishing in the territorial sea and fishery conservation zone adjacent to Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(b)Requirements.—
An endorsement may be issued under subsection (a) for a vessel that—
(1)satisfies the requirements of section 12103 of this title;
(2)was not built in the United States, except that for an endorsement under subsection (a)(2), the vessel must not have been built or rebuilt in the United States;
(3)is less than 200 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage as measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title; and
(4)otherwise qualifies under the laws of the United States to engage in the coastwise trade or the fisheries, as the case may be.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1211646:12106(c). 46:12108(c).

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 12116, Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 589, originally derived from section 65f of former Title 46, Shipping, related to numbers, signal letters, and identification markings, prior to being repealed by Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §§ 106(b)(5), 107(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4752, effective Jan. 1, 1989.

Executive Documents

Territorial Sea of United States For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 12116

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110