PRIA Logo™
Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§14522 Measurement

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part J — Measurement of Vessels › CHAPTER 145 — REGULATORY MEASUREMENT › SUBCHAPTER III — SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM › § 14522

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must assign a vessel’s gross and net tonnages using the ship’s measurements. Length means the horizontal distance from the very front of the hull to the very back, not counting fittings or attachments. The Secretary also must set how to measure the other dimensions and which calculation factors to use. The gross tonnages must reflect the ships’ internal volumes, and net tonnages must be about the same ratio to gross tonnages as for similar vessels measured under subchapter II. Under rules the Secretary makes, the Secretary may pick a representative vessel’s tonnages and apply those same numbers to other vessels of the same class or model.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §14522

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “length” means the horizontal distance of the hull between the foremost part of the stem and the aftermost part of the stern, excluding fittings and attachments.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall assign gross and net tonnages to a vessel based on its length, breadth, depth, other dimensions, and appropriate coefficients.
(2)The Secretary shall prescribe the way dimensions (except length) are measured and which coefficients are appropriate.
(c)The resulting gross tonnages, taken as a group, reasonably shall reflect the relative internal volumes of the vessels measured under this subchapter. The resulting net tonnages shall be in approximately the same ratios to corresponding gross tonnages as are the net and gross tonnages of comparable vessels measured under subchapter II of this chapter.
(d)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary may determine the gross and net tonnages of a vessel representative of a designated class, model, or type, and then assign those gross and net tonnages to other vessels of the same class, model, or type.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14522 Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 71. section 14522(a) defines the term “length” as it is used in the simplified measurement system. section 14522(b) requires the Secretary to assign gross and net tonnages under the simplified system, based on a vessel’s length, breadth, depth, other dimensions and appropriate coefficients, as the Secretary deems appropriate. section 14522(c) provides that the gross tonnages as measured under this section shall reflect the relative internal volumes of vessels. It provides further that the net tonnages measured under this section shall be in approximately the same ratio to corresponding gross tonnages as are the net and gross tonnages of comparable vessels measured under the standard regulatory measurement system.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 14522

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102