US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

33 U.S.C. § 1604

Vessels not subject to International Regulations

(a)
The International Regulations do not apply to vessels while in the waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States.
(b)
Whenever a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States is in the territorial waters of a foreign state the International Regulations shall be applicable to, and shall be complied with by, that vessel to the extent that the laws and regulations of the foreign state are not in conflict therewith.

Pub. L. 95–75, § 591 Stat. 309Pub. L. 96–591, § 6(1)94 Stat. 3434(, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 96–591section 154 of this titlesection 241 of this titlesection 301 of this title1980—Subsec. (a). substituted provision providing that the International Regulations do not apply to vessels while in the waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States for provisions that had made specific reference to harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, as defined in , to the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters, as defined in , and to the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries, as defined in .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–591, § 794 Stat. 3435

section 2073 of this title“Sections 2, 4, 6(1), and 8(a) [enacting section 2072 and former sections 2001 to 2038 of this title, amending this section, and repealing sections 154 to 159, 171 to 183, 191, 192, 201 to 213, 221, 222, 231, 232, 301 to 303, 311 to 323, 331, 341 to 356, 360, and 360a of this title and sections 526b, 526c, and 526d of former Title 46, Shipping] are effective 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act [], except that on the Great Lakes, the effective date of sections 2 and 4 [enacting section 2072 and former sections 2001 to 2038 of this title] will be established by the Secretary. [The effective date on the Great Lakes was established as . See 47 F.R. 15135, .] Section 5 [enacting ] is effective on .”
, , , provided that: