Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-83
§12131 Command of Documented Vessels
Title 46 › Subtitle 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 noncitizen national may command a vessel that is U.S.-documented (see the definition in 8 U.S.C. 1408). This rule does not apply to vessels with only a recreational endorsement or to unmanned barges operating outside U.S. territorial waters.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §12131
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)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)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
Apr 18, 2026
Release point: 119-83