Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§4701 Definitions

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › CHAPTER 47 — ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER I — BARGES › § 4701

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part of the law. Abandon means to moor, strand, wreck, sink, or leave a barge over 100 gross tons (measured under section 14502, or an alternate tonnage under section 14302 as set by the Secretary under section 14104) unattended for more than 45 days. Barge removal contractor means a person who has a contract with the United States to remove an abandoned barge under this subchapter. Navigable waters of the United States means U.S. waters, including the territorial sea. Removal or remove means moving, selling, scrapping, or otherwise disposing of a barge.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §4701

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this subchapter—
(1)“abandon” means to moor, strand, wreck, sink, or leave a barge of more than 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title unattended for longer than forty-five days.
(2)“barge removal contractor” means a person that enters into a contract with the United States to remove an abandoned barge under this subchapter.
(3)“navigable waters of the United States” means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea.
(4)“removal” or “remove” means relocation, sale, scrapping, or other method of disposal.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 7347(c)(1)(A), substituted “subchapter” for “chapter” in introductory provisions. Par. (2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7347(c)(1)(B), substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”. 1996—Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Application to Certain Barges Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5303, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5083, provided that: “Chapter 47 of title 46, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) [section 5302], does not apply to a barge abandoned before June 11, 1992, if the barge was removed before the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this title [Nov. 4, 1992].”

Executive Documents

Territorial Sea of United States For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 4701

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102