§5103 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

A vessel may operate only if it has assigned load lines. Owners and people in charge must mark and keep those load lines clearly and permanently as the Secretary requires. Fishing vessels built on or before July 1, 2013 that have a major conversion finished after the later of July 1, 2013 or the date the Secretary establishes standards must follow an alternate loadline program the Secretary prescribes with the commercial fishing industry.

Title 46, §5103

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A vessel may be operated only if the vessel has been assigned load lines.

(b)The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, and individual in charge of a vessel shall mark and maintain the load lines permanently and conspicuously in the way prescribed by the Secretary.

(c)A fishing vessel built on or before July 1, 2013, that undergoes a major conversion completed after the later of July 1, 2013, or the date the Secretary establishes standards for an alternate loadline compliance program, shall comply with such an alternative loadline compliance program that is developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and prescribed by the Secretary.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 5103 Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 86c, 88b. section 5103(a) prohibits a vessel that is subject to load line requirements from operating, unless it has load lines assigned by the Secretary. section 5103(b) requires that load lines be permanently and conspicuously maintained in the manner prescribed by the Secretary.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–213 substituted “

July 1, 2013,” for “

July 1, 2012,” in two places and substituted “major conversion” for “substantial change to the dimension of or type of the vessel”. 2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–281 added subsec. (c).

§5103 Load Line Requirements