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Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§55106 Merchandise Transferred Between Barges

Title 46 › Subtitle V — Merchant Marine › Part D — Promotional Programs › CHAPTER 551 — COASTWISE TRADE › § 55106

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Homeland Security can allow an exception to a rule that normally covers moving goods in foreign trade when the goods are moved from one barge to another barge owned or leased by the same owner or operator, if the owner/operator certifies the barges are built to be carried on a vessel and are regularly carried in foreign trade. This exception does not apply to movements between the continental United States and noncontiguous States, territories, or possessions that are covered by coastwise laws. For a foreign-flag vessel, the Secretary may grant the exception only after getting information from the Secretary of State and finding the foreign government gives the same privileges to U.S. vessels.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §55106

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
On terms and conditions the Secretary of Homeland Security may prescribe by regulation, the Secretary may suspend the application of section 55102 of this title to the transportation of merchandise that is transferred, when moving in the foreign trade of the United States, from a barge certified by the owner or operator as designed specifically for carriage on a vessel and carried regularly on a vessel in foreign trade, to another such barge owned or leased by the same owner or operator. However, this subsection does not apply to transportation between the continental United States and noncontiguous States, territories, or possessions to which the coastwise laws apply.
(b)Reciprocity Requirement for Foreign Vessels.—
This section applies to a vessel of foreign registry only if the Secretary of Homeland Security finds, based on information from the Secretary of State, that the government of the nation of registry extends reciprocal privileges to vessels of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5510646 App.:883 (7th proviso).June 5, 1920, ch. 250, § 27 (7th proviso), 41 Stat. 999; July 2, 1935, ch. 355, 49 Stat. 442; Pub. L. 92–163, § 1, Nov. 23, 1971, 85 Stat. 486. In subsection (a), the words “non-self-propelled” are omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of “barge” in chapter 1 of the revised title. The words “between points in the United States” and “without regard to whether any such barge is under foreign registry or qualified to engage in the coastwise trade” are omitted as surplus.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 55106

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110