Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§5113 Detention of Vessels

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part C — Load Lines of Vessels › CHAPTER 51 — LOAD LINES › § 5113

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can detain a vessel that is about to leave the United States if it would break this law. The Secretary must tell the owner, operator, agent, or person in charge. A vessel can only be cleared under section 60105 after the problem is fixed, and any earlier clearance is taken back. Those told about the detention can ask the Secretary to review it. The Secretary may confirm, change, or cancel the detention and may require an independent survey. If the vessel is found to be in violation, the owner must pay the costs of the review and any survey.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §5113

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)When the Secretary believes that a vessel is about to leave a place in the United States in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter, the Secretary may detain the vessel by giving notice to the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of the vessel.
(b)A detained vessel may be cleared under section 60105 of this title only after the violation has been corrected. If the vessel was cleared before being detained, the clearance shall be withdrawn.
(c)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a detained vessel may petition the Secretary to review the detention order.
(d)After reviewing a petition, the Secretary may affirm, withdraw, or change the detention order. Before acting on the petition, the Secretary may require any independent survey that may be necessary to determine the condition of the vessel.
(e)The owner of a vessel is liable for the cost incident to a petition for review and any required survey if the vessel is found to be in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 5113 Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 86h, 88f. section 5113 authorizes the Secretary to detain a vessel if the Secretary believes that the vessel is in violation of the load line requirements, and describes the process through which a vessel may be cleared. It also states that a vessel owner is liable for certain costs resulting from a petition for review and load line survey that is made pursuant to a violation of load line requirements.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–304 substituted “section 60105 of this title” for “section 4197 of the Revised Statutes (46 App. U.S.C. 91)”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 5113

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102