PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

If a vessel’s inspection certificate runs out while it is abroad, the vessel may still sail back to a U.S. port within 30 days after the expiration without penalty. If the certificate would run out within 15 days of leaving the U.S. for a foreign trip, the vessel must get a new certificate before sailing unless the trip is due to end before it expires; otherwise penalties can apply unless the delay was beyond those responsible. For foreign passenger ships on regular routes, the Secretary may allow them to keep sailing without extra inspection when a certificate expires at sea or while in the United States, but only if the ship will be inspected and issued a certificate before its next return to the United States.

Title 46, §3314

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(a)If the certificate of inspection of a vessel expires when the vessel is on a foreign voyage, the vessel may complete the voyage to a port of the United States within 30 days of the expiration of the certificate without incurring the penalties for operating without a certificate of inspection.

(b)If the certificate of inspection would expire within 15 days of sailing on a foreign voyage from a United States port, the vessel shall secure a new certificate of inspection before sailing, unless the voyage is scheduled to be completed prior to the expiration date of the certificate. If a voyage scheduled to be completed in that time is not so completed, the applicable penalties may be enforced unless the failure to meet the schedule was beyond the control of the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of the vessel.

(c)When the certificate of inspection of a foreign vessel carrying passengers, operated on a regularly established line, expires at sea after leaving the country to which it belongs or when the vessel is in the United States, the Secretary may permit the vessel to sail on its regular route without further inspection than would have been required had the certificate not expired. This permission applies only when the vessel will be regularly inspected and issued a certificate before the vessel’s next return to the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 331446:36246:399 section 3314 contains the procedures for when a vessel’s certificate of inspection expires while on a foreign voyage.

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.

§3314 Expiration of Certificate of Inspection