§55102 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

A vessel must not carry merchandise by water, or by land and water, between U.S. points covered by the coastwise laws, either directly or by going through a foreign port, unless two things are true. First, the vessel is wholly owned by U.S. citizens for coastwise trade. Second, it has a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121, or it is exempt from documentation but would otherwise qualify for that certificate and endorsement. Merchandise here means goods owned by the U.S. government, a State, or a part of a State, and material that has no value. If merchandise is moved in violation of these rules, it can be seized and forfeited to the Government. Instead, the Government may recover from anyone who transported or caused the transport an amount equal to the merchandise’s value (as set by the Secretary of Homeland Security) or the actual transport cost, whichever is greater.

Title 46, §55102

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, the term “merchandise” includes—

(1)merchandise owned by the United States Government, a State, or a subdivision of a State; and

(2)valueless material.

(b)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or chapter 121 of this title, a vessel may not provide any part of the transportation of merchandise by water, or by land and water, between points in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, unless the vessel—

(1)is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in the coastwise trade; and

(2)has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 or is exempt from documentation but would otherwise be eligible for such a certificate and endorsement.

(c)Merchandise transported in violation of subsection (b) is liable to seizure by and forfeiture to the Government. Alternatively, an amount equal to the value of the merchandise (as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security) or the actual cost of the transportation, whichever is greater, may be recovered from any person transporting the merchandise or causing the merchandise to be transported.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5510246 App.:883 (words before 1st proviso, 11th proviso).June 5, 1920, ch. 250, § 27 (words before 1st proviso, 11th proviso), 41 Stat. 999; July 2, 1935, ch. 355, 49 Stat. 442; Pub. L. 95–410, title II, § 213, Oct. 3, 1978, 92 Stat. 904; Pub. L. 101–329 [100–329], § 1(a)(1), [§ 1(a)] June 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5501(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5085. In subsection (a)(1), the words “(as defined in section 2101 of the [sic] title 46)” are omitted because the definition of “State” is being moved to chapter 1 and will apply to the entire title. In subsection (b), the words “may not provide any part of the transportation of” are substituted for “No . . . shall be transported” and “or for any part of the transportation” because of the reorganization of the language. The words “including Districts, Territories, and possessions thereof” are omitted because of the definition of “United States” in chapter 1 of the revised title. The words “to which the coastwise laws apply” are substituted for “embraced within the coastwise laws” for consistency with section 55101. The words “is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in the coastwise trade” are substituted for “owned by persons who are citizens of the United States”, and the words “has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121” are substituted for “documented under the laws of the United States”, for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words “or is exempt from documentation but would otherwise be eligible for such a certificate and endorsement” are added for consistency with section 12102 as revised by the bill. The requirement that the vessel be built in the United States is omitted from this section for consistency with the requirements for a coastwise endorsement, which also require that the vessel be built in the United States except in certain circumstances. The words “or vessels to which the privilege of engaging in the coastwise trade is extended by section 808 of this Appendix or section 22 of this Act” are omitted because the relevant portion of section 808, and section 22, have been repealed. In subsection (c), the words “any person” are substituted for “any consignor, seller, owner, importer, consignee, agent, or other person or persons” to eliminate unnecessary words.

§55102 Transportation of Merchandise

Summary

Title 46, §55102

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata