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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§8503 Federal Pilots Authorized

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part F— Manning of Vessels › Chapter 85— PILOTS › § 8503

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can require a federal pilot on a self-propelled ship in foreign trade when no State pilot rule applies, if the ship is operating in U.S. internal waters or within 3 nautical miles of the baseline. That requirement ends when the State creates its own pilot rule and tells the Secretary. For the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Secretary can only give this authority to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Anyone who breaks this rule can be fined up to $25,000 by the U.S. government. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the ship itself can be held responsible. Knowingly breaking the rule is a class D felony.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §8503

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may require a pilot licensed under section 7101 of this title on a self-propelled vessel when a pilot is not required by State law and the vessel is—
(1)engaged in foreign commerce; and
(2)operating—
(A)in internal waters of the United States; or
(B)within 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured.
(b)A requirement prescribed under subsection (a) of this section is terminated when the State having jurisdiction over the area involved—
(1)establishes a requirement for a State licensed pilot; and
(2)notifies the Secretary of that fact.
(c)For the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Secretary may not delegate the authority under this section to an agency except the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
(d)A person violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
(e)A person that knowingly violates this section or a regulation prescribed under this section commits a class D felony.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”. 1998—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–383 added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “operating on the navigable waters of the United States.” 1990—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–380 substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not more than five years, or both”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Executive Documents

Territorial Sea of United States For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 8503

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60