Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§55122 Floating Dry Docks

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— Merchant Marine › Part D— Promotional Programs › Chapter 551— COASTWISE TRADE › § 55122

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Some moves of floating dry docks do not have to follow the usual movement rule. The dry dock must be used to launch or lift a ship for building, maintenance, or repair. It must be owned and run by a U.S. shipyard that is an eligible owner under federal law, or by that shipyard’s affiliate. The shipyard must have owned it or contracted to buy it before the date the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 became law, or have signed a letter of intent before that date. The movement must stay within 5 nautical miles of the owning shipyard, except docks covered by that letter of intent may move between Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. For dry docks used to build Navy ships at U.S. shipyards, the Secretary of the Navy can say the ownership rule is met and use December 19, 2017 instead of the earlier date if the Secretary finds the dock is needed to finish work on time and the dock is properly owned or operated (or owned by a State and run by an eligible shipyard). The Secretary must notify the House Committees on Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Commerce, Science, and Transportation within 30 days. A “floating dry dock” here means equipment with wing walls and a fully submersible deck.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §55122

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)section 55102 of this title does not apply to the movement of a floating dry dock if—
(1)the floating dry dock—
(A)is being used to launch or raise a vessel in connection with the construction, maintenance, or repair of that vessel;
(B)is owned and operated by—
(i)a shipyard located in the United States that is an eligible owner specified under section 12103(b) of this title; or
(ii)an affiliate of such a shipyard; and
(C)(i)was owned or contracted for purchase by such shipyard or affiliate prior to the date of the enactment of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015; or
(ii)had a letter of intent for purchase by such shipyard or affiliate signed prior to such date of enactment; and
(2)the movement occurs within 5 nautical miles of the shipyard or affiliate that owns and operates such floating dry dock or, in the case of a dry dock described in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), occurs between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
(b)(1)In applying subsection (a) to a floating dry dock used for the construction of naval vessels in a shipyard located in the United States, the ownership and operation requirement in paragraph (1)(B) of that subsection shall be treated as satisfied and “December 19, 2017” shall be substituted for the date referred to in paragraph (1)(C) of that subsection if the Secretary of the Navy determines that—
(A)such dry dock is necessary for the timely completion of such construction; and
(B)such dry dock—
(i)is owned and operated by—
(I)a shipyard located in the United States that is an eligible owner specified under section 12103(b); or
(II)an affiliate of such a shipyard; or
(ii)is—
(I)owned by the State in which the shipyard is located or a political subdivision of that State; and
(II)operated by a shipyard located in the United States that is an eligible owner specified under section 12103(b).
(2)Not later than 30 days after making a determination under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Navy shall notify the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of such determination.
(c)In this section, the term “floating dry dock” means equipment with wing walls and a fully submersible deck.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(C), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 113–291, which was approved Dec. 19, 2014.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11525(1), designated existing provisions as cl. (i), substituted “2015; or” for “2015; and”, and added cl. (ii). Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11525(2), inserted “or, in the case of a dry dock described in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), occurs between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii” before period at end. 2016—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 55122

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60