Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§60305 Vessels in Distress
Title 46 › Subtitle VI — Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties › CHAPTER 603 — TONNAGE TAXES AND LIGHT MONEY › § 60305
Summary
If a ship enters a port because it is in distress, it does not have to pay tonnage taxes or light money when it arrives.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §60305
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A vessel is exempt from tonnage taxes and light money when it enters because it is in distress.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 6030546 App.:121 (3d sentence related to distress).Aug. 5, 1909, ch. 6, § 36 (2d sentence related to distress), 36 Stat. 111; Pub. L. 101–508, title X, § 10402(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–398; Pub. L. 103–66, title IX, § 9001(a)(3), (c)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 402. The words “and light money” are added for clarity and consistency. See 19 C.F.R. § 4.21 (2003).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 60305
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102