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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§12139 Reports

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part H— Identification of Vessels › Chapter 121— DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › Subchapter III— MISCELLANEOUS › § 12139

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can require owners, captains, charterers, and mortgage holders of vessels registered under U.S. law to send reports in whatever reasonable form the Secretary sets. This is to make sure the rules for coastwise trade and fishing are followed. If a U.S.-registered vessel over 500 gross tons (measured under section 14502) or an alternate tonnage (measured under section 14302 and set under section 14104) is rebuilt outside the United States, the owner or captain must report the rebuilding under rules the Secretary makes. If rebuilding is finished inside the United States, the report is due when the work is finished. If finished outside, the report is due when the vessel first arrives at a port in the customs territory of the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §12139

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To ensure compliance with this chapter and laws governing the qualifications of vessels to engage in the coastwise trade and the fisheries, the Secretary may require owners, masters, charterers, and mortgagees of documented vessels to submit reports in any reasonable form and manner the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)(1)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if a vessel exceeding the tonnage specified in paragraph (2) and documented or last documented under the laws of the United States is rebuilt outside the United States, the owner or master shall submit a report of the rebuilding to the Secretary.
(2)The tonnage referred to in paragraph (1) is—
(A)500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title; or
(B)an alternate tonnage as measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title.
(3)If the rebuilding is completed in the United States, the report shall be submitted when the rebuilding is completed. If the rebuilding is completed outside the United States, the report shall be submitted when the vessel first arrives at a port in the customs territory of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 12139(a)46:12120. 12139(b)46 App.:883a (1st sentence).July 14, 1956, ch. 600, § 2 (1st sentence), 70 Stat. 544; Pub. L. 86–583, § 2, July 5, 1960, 74 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 707, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3934. In subsection (b)(1), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Secretary of the Treasury”, thereby incorporating the definition of “Secretary” in section 2101 of title 46. The functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the Coast Guard previously were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by section 6(b) of the Department of Transportation Act (Pub. L. 89–670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938). The Coast Guard and the functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating to the Coast Guard were again transferred to the Department of Homeland Security by section 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135). The words “rebuilt outside the United States” are substituted for “and any part of the rebuilding, including the

Construction

of major components of the hull and superstructure of the vessel, is not effected within the United States, its Territories (not including trust territories) or its possessions” because of the definition of “rebuilt” in section 12101, and the definition of “United States” in chapter 1, of the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–241, § 308. See 2006 Amendment note below. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(a)(2), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–241, § 308, into this section by substituting “charterers, and mortgagees” for “and charterers”. See 2006 Amendment note below and section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304, set out as a Legislative Purpose and

Construction

note preceding section 101 of this title. 2006—Pub. L. 109–241, § 308, which directed the amendment of former section 12120 of this title from which subsec. (a) of this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b). See 2008 Amendment note for subsec. (a) and

Historical and Revision Notes

above.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 12139

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60