Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§12133 Duty to Carry Certificate on Vessel and Allow Examination
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part H — Identification of Vessels › CHAPTER 121 — DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER III — MISCELLANEOUS › § 12133
Summary
Keep the vessel’s certificate of documentation on board unless a rule says you do not have to. The owner or person in charge must show the certificate when an officer enforcing the revenue laws asks, or whenever law or regulation requires it. If someone willfully refuses to show the certificate, they can be fined under Title 18, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §12133
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Duty To Carry.—
The certificate of documentation of a vessel shall be carried on the vessel unless the vessel is exempt by regulation from carrying the certificate.
(b)Availability.—
The owner or individual in charge of a vessel required to carry its certificate of documentation shall make the certificate available for examination at the request of an officer enforcing the revenue laws or as otherwise required by law or regulation.
(c)Criminal Penalty.—
A person willfully violating subsection (b) shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1213346:12103(e). 46 App.:277.R.S. § 4336; Aug. 5, 1935, ch. 438, title III, § 312, 49 Stat. 528; Pub. L. 85–237, § 2, Aug. 30, 1957, 71 Stat. 518; Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, § 686(a)(5), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2220. This section consolidates and clarifies the requirements contained in the source provisions. The specific civil penalties are omitted as unnecessary because of the general civil penalty in section 12151(a) of the revised title. See also 19 U.S.C. 1581.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 12133
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110