US Code

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

46 U.S.C. § 12114

Recreational endorsement

(a)

Requirements .—

section 12103 of this titleA recreational endorsement may be issued for a vessel that satisfies the requirements of .
(b)

Authorized Activity .—

A vessel operating under a recreational endorsement may be operated only for pleasure.
(c)

Application of Customs Laws .—

19 U.S.C. 1433A vessel for which a recreational endorsement is issued may proceed between a port of the United States and a port of a foreign country without entering or clearing with the Secretary of Homeland Security. However, a recreational vessel is subject to the requirements for reporting arrivals under section 433 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (), and individuals on the vessel are subject to applicable customs regulations.

Pub. L. 109–304, § 5120 Stat. 1498(, , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

12114(a)

46:12109(a).

12114(b)

46:12109(c).

 

46:12110(c).

12114(c)

46:12109(b).

Pub. L. 107–296116 Stat. 2178In subsection (c), the words “Secretary of Homeland Security” are substituted for “Customs Service” because the functions of the Customs Service and of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto were transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 403(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (, ).

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 98–8997 Stat. 589Pub. L. 99–36, § 1(a)(8)99 Stat. 67Pub. L. 100–710, title I102 Stat. 4752A prior section 12114, , , ; , , , originally derived from section 65c of former Title 46, Shipping, related to home ports, prior to being repealed by , §§ 106(b)(5), 107(a), , , effective .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Documentation of Recreational Vessels

Pub. L. 115–282, title VIII, § 826132 Stat. 4314

“Coast Guard personnel performing nonrecreational vessel documentation functions under subchapter II of chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, may perform recreational vessel documentation under section 12114 of such title in any fiscal year in which—
“(1)
funds available for Coast Guard operating expenses may not be used for expenses incurred for recreational vessel documentation;
“(2)
fees collected from owners of yachts and credited to such use are insufficient to pay expenses of recreational vessel documentation; and
“(3)
there is a backlog of applications for recreational vessel documentation.”
, , , provided that: