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Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§3105 Electronic Charts

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › CHAPTER 31 — GENERAL › § 3105

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Certain vessels can use approved electronic navigation charts instead of paper charts when operating in U.S. waters, if the charts come from a government hydrographic office or meet a standard the Secretary accepts. This applies to self-propelled commercial vessels 65 feet or longer, vessels carrying more than a passenger limit set by the Secretary, towing vessels longer than 26 feet with over 600 horsepower, and any other vessels the Secretary decides need electronic charts for safe navigation. The Secretary can exempt or waive vessels or waters where electronic charts are not needed. Vessels that stay inside the baseline may use platform-independent chart software if it shows enough detail for safe navigation. Except under an international treaty or agreement, this rule does not apply to foreign ships that are merely passing through U.S. territorial seas or transiting international straits and are not going to or leaving a U.S. port.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §3105

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)System Requirements.—
(1)Electronic charts in lieu of marine charts, charts, and maps.—
Subject to paragraph (2), the following vessels, while operating on the navigable waters of the United States, equipped with and operating electronic navigational charts that are produced by a government hydrographic office or conform to a standard acceptable to the Secretary, shall be deemed in compliance with any requirement under title 33 or title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to have a chart, marine chart, or map on board such vessel:
(A)A self-propelled commercial vessel of at least 65 feet in overall length.
(B)A vessel carrying more than a number of passengers for hire determined by the Secretary.
(C)A towing vessel of more than 26 feet in overall length and 600 horsepower.
(D)Any other vessel for which the Secretary decides that electronic charts are necessary for the safe navigation of the vessel.
(2)Exemptions and waivers.—
The Secretary may—
(A)exempt a vessel from paragraph (1), if the Secretary finds that electronic charts are not necessary for the safe navigation of the vessel on the waters on which the vessel operates;
(B)waive the application of paragraph (1) with respect to operation of vessels on navigable waters of the United States specified by the Secretary, if the Secretary finds that electronic charts are not needed for safe navigation on those waters; and
(C)permit vessels described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) that operate solely landward of the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured to utilize software-based, platform-independent electronic chart systems that the Secretary determines are capable of displaying electronic navigational charts with necessary scale and detail to ensure safe navigation for the intended voyage.
(b)Limitation on Application.—
Except pursuant to an international treaty, convention, or agreement, to which the United States is a party, this section shall not apply to any foreign vessel that is not destined for, or departing from, a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and that is in— (1)
(2)transit through the navigable waters of the United States that form a part of an international strait.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section, as added and amended by Pub. L. 115–282, is based on Pub. L. 92–340, § 4A, as added Pub. L. 108–293, title IV, § 410, Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1045, which was formerly classified to section 1223a of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, before being transferred to this chapter and renumbered as this section.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8301(a), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to paragraph (2), the following vessels, while operating on the navigable waters of the United States, shall be equipped with and operate electronic charts under

Regulations

prescribed by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating: “(A) A self-propelled commercial vessel of at least 65 feet overall length. “(B) A vessel carrying more than a number of passengers for hire determined by the Secretary. “(C) A towing vessel of more than 26 feet in overall length and 600 horsepower. “(D) Any other vessel for which the Secretary decides that electronic charts are necessary for the safe navigation of the vessel.” Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8301(b), added subpar. (C). 2018—Pub. L. 115–282, § 402(a)(1)(A), transferred section 4A of Pub. L. 92–340 to this chapter and renumbered it as this section. See Codification note above. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–282, § 402(a)(1)(B), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe

Regulations

implementing subsection (a) before January 1, 2007, including requirements for the operation and maintenance of the electronic charts required under subsection (a).”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 3105

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110