Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60
§3311 Certificate of Inspection Required
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part B— Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter 33— INSPECTION GENERALLY › § 3311
Summary
Vessels needing inspection cannot operate without a certificate on board. If a vessel lacks one, the Secretary can order the responsible person to keep it moored, take safety actions, or go for repairs.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §3311
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(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), a vessel subject to inspection under this part may not be operated without having on board a certificate of inspection issued under section 3309 of this title.
(b)The Secretary may direct the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel subject to inspection under this chapter and not having on board a certificate of inspection—
(1)to have the vessel proceed to mooring and remain there until a certificate of inspection is issued;
(2)to take immediate steps necessary for the safety of the vessel, individuals on board the vessel, or the environment; or
(3)to have the vessel proceed to a place to make repairs necessary to obtain a certificate of inspection.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 331146:390c46:39546:399 section 3311 prohibits the operation of a vessel subject to inspection without having on board a valid certificate of inspection.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1984—Pub. L. 98–498 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (b), a vessel” for “A vessel”, struck out “valid” before “certificate of inspection”, and added subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 3311
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60