Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§2103 Superintendence of the Merchant Marine
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part A — General Provisions › CHAPTER 21 — GENERAL › § 2103
Summary
The Secretary oversees the U.S. merchant marine and personnel to enforce this subtitle unless another official has authority. They must enforce and uniformly apply the rules to protect safety and seamen’s welfare and may make regulations.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §2103
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary has general superintendence over the merchant marine of the United States and of merchant marine personnel insofar as the enforcement of this subtitle is concerned and insofar as those vessels and personnel are not subject, under other law, to the supervision of another official of the United States Government. In the interests of marine safety and seamen’s welfare, the Secretary shall enforce this subtitle and shall carry out correctly and uniformly administer this subtitle. The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 210346:246:37246:689 section 2103 provides the Secretary with the authority to superintend the merchant marine and those involved personnel insofar as the vessels and personnel are not subject, under other laws, to the supervision of another official. The Secretary has the duty to enforce the laws with respect to vessels and seamen and to carry out correctly and uniformly these laws and
Regulations
. The term “superintendence” is used to indicate the Secretary’s broad responsibility for overseeing maritime safety and seamen’s welfare, including employment, shipping, navigation, and protection of the marine environment.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1986—Pub. L. 99–307 substituted “subtitle. The Secretary may prescribe
Regulations
to carry out the provisions of this subtitle” for “subtitle and
Regulations
prescribed under this subtitle”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 2103
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102