Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§3704 Coastwise Trade Vessels
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › CHAPTER 37 — CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES › § 3704
Summary
Coastwise vessels required by law to have certain systems (segregated ballast tanks, crude‑oil washing, or inert‑gas systems) must have those systems installed in the U.S., not in trust territories, or they cannot trade coastwise.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §3704
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A segregated ballast tank, a crude oil washing system, or an inert gas system, required by this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter, on a vessel entitled to engage in the coastwise trade under chapter 551 of this title shall be installed in the United States (except the trust territories). A vessel failing to comply with this section may not engage in the coastwise trade.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 370446:391a(7) section 3704 requires any tank vessel that is entitled to engage in the coastwise trade to install certain equipment in the United States under the penalty of losing coastwise trading privileges if the installation work is done in a foreign country.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Pub. L. 109–304 substituted “chapter 551 of this title” for “section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883),”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 3704
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102