Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§12131 Command of Documented Vessels
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part H — Identification of Vessels › CHAPTER 121 — DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER III — MISCELLANEOUS › § 12131
Summary
Only a U.S. citizen or a U.S. noncitizen national (see 8 U.S.C. 1408) may be in command of a documented vessel. That rule does not cover vessels with only a recreational endorsement or unmanned barges operating outside U.S. territorial waters. Noncitizen national — a person who owes U.S. allegiance but is not a U.S. citizen (see 8 U.S.C. 1408).
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §12131
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), a documented vessel may be placed under the command only of a citizen or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) of the United States.
(b)Exceptions.—
Subsection (a) does not apply to—
(1)a vessel with only a recreational endorsement; or
(2)an unmanned barge operating outside of the territorial waters of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1213146:12110(d).
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 inserted “or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408))” after “citizen”. 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “command” for “commmand”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 12131
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110