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Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§60103 Oath of Ownership on Entry

Title 46 › Subtitle VI — Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties › CHAPTER 601 — ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS › § 60103

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a vessel of the United States comes into port from a foreign country, a person must swear one of two things: either the vessel’s certificate of documentation lists every owner, or ownership changed since that certificate but, to the person’s best knowledge, only U.S. citizens now own the vessel. If an owner lives at the port of entry, that owner must make the sworn statement. If no owner lives there, the master must do it. If the required person does not make the sworn statement, the vessel loses the privileges of a vessel of the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §60103

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Required Statement.—
On entry of a vessel of the United States from a foreign port, the individual designated under subsection (b) shall state under oath that—
(1)the vessel’s certificate of documentation contains the names of all the owners of the vessel; or
(2)part of the ownership has been transferred since the certificate was issued and, to the best of the individual’s knowledge and belief, the vessel is still owned only by citizens of the United States.
(b)Person To Make Statement.—
The statement under subsection (a) shall be made by—
(1)an owner if one resides at the port of entry; or
(2)the master if an owner does not reside at the port of entry.
(c)Consequence of Not Making Statement.—
If the appropriate individual does not make the statement required by this section, the vessel is not entitled to the privileges of a vessel of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 6010346 App.:42.R.S. § 4173. In subsection (a), the words “certificate of documentation” and “certificate” are substituted for “register” for consistency with chapter 121 of the revised title. In paragraph (2), the words “sold or” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “owned only by citizens of the United States” are substituted for “no foreign subject or citizen has . . . any share, by way of trust, confidence, or otherwise” for consistency in the revised title and to eliminate unnecessary words.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 60103

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110