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Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§42301 Definitions

Title 46 › Subtitle IV — Regulation of Ocean Shipping › Part B — Actions To Address Foreign Practices › CHAPTER 423 — FOREIGN SHIPPING PRACTICES › § 42301

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter and refers to other federal definitions. Foreign carrier: an ocean carrier with most ships registered abroad. Maritime services: port-to-port cargo moved by ocean carriers. Maritime-related services: other activities tied to an ocean carrier’s operations (like terminals, intermodal moves, cargo sales, agency and freight‑forwarding). U.S. carrier: ocean carrier with U.S.-registered ships. U.S. oceanborne trade: cargo carried between the U.S. and a foreign country by an ocean carrier.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §42301

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Defined in Part A.—
In this chapter, the terms “common carrier”, “marine terminal operator”, “ocean common carrier”, “ocean transportation intermediary”, “shipper”, and “shippers’ association” have the meaning given those terms in section 40102 of this title.
(b)Other Definitions.—
In this chapter:
(1)Foreign carrier.—
The term “foreign carrier” means an ocean common carrier a majority of whose vessels are documented under the laws of a foreign country.
(2)Maritime services.—
The term “maritime services” means port-to-port transportation of cargo by vessels operated by an ocean common carrier.
(3)Maritime-related services.—
The term “maritime-related services” means intermodal operations, terminal operations, cargo solicitation, agency services, ocean transportation intermediary services and operations, and all other activities and services integral to total transportation systems of ocean common carriers and their foreign domiciled affiliates for themselves and others.
(4)United states carrier.—
The term “United States carrier” means an ocean common carrier operating vessels documented under the laws of the United States.
(5)United states oceanborne trade.—
The term “United States oceanborne trade” means the carriage of cargo between the United States and a foreign country, whether directly or indirectly, by an ocean common carrier.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4230146 App.:1710a(a).Pub. L. 100–418, title X, § 10002(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1570; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, § 111(1)–(3), Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1911.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 42301

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110