US Code

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

46 U.S.C. § 12139

Reports

(a)

In General .—

To ensure compliance with this chapter and laws governing the qualifications of vessels to engage in the coastwise trade and the fisheries, the Secretary may require owners, masters, charterers, and mortgagees of documented vessels to submit reports in any reasonable form and manner the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)

Vessels Rebuilt Outside United States .—

(1)

In general .—

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if a vessel exceeding the tonnage specified in paragraph (2) and documented or last documented under the laws of the United States is rebuilt outside the United States, the owner or master shall submit a report of the rebuilding to the Secretary.
(2)

Tonnage .—

The tonnage referred to in paragraph (1) is—
(A)
section 14502 of this title 500 gross tons as measured under ; or
(B)
section 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title an alternate tonnage as measured under as prescribed by the Secretary under .
(3)

Timing of submission .—

If the rebuilding is completed in the United States, the report shall be submitted when the rebuilding is completed. If the rebuilding is completed outside the United States, the report shall be submitted when the vessel first arrives at a port in the customs territory of the United States.

Pub. L. 109–304, § 5120 Stat. 1507Pub. L. 109–241, title III, § 308120 Stat. 528Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3525(a)(2)122 Stat. 600(, , ; , , ; , (b), , , 601.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

12139(a)

46:12120.

12139(b)

46 App.:883a (1st sentence).

July 14, 1956, ch. 600, § 2 (1st sentence), 70 Stat. 544; Pub. L. 86–583, § 2, July 5, 1960, 74 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 707, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3934.

section 2101 of title 46Pub. L. 89–67080 Stat. 938Pub. L. 107–296116 Stat. 2135In subsection (b)(1), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Secretary of the Treasury”, thereby incorporating the definition of “Secretary” in . The functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the Coast Guard previously were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by section 6(b) of the Department of Transportation Act (, , ). The Coast Guard and the functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating to the Coast Guard were again transferred to the Department of Homeland Security by section 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (, , ). The words “rebuilt outside the United States” are substituted for “and any part of the rebuilding, including the construction of major components of the hull and superstructure of the vessel, is not effected within the United States, its Territories (not including trust territories) or its possessions” because of the definition of “rebuilt” in section 12101, and the definition of “United States” in chapter 1, of the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b)Pub. L. 109–241, § 3082008—, repealed . See 2006 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(a)(2)Pub. L. 109–241, § 308section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304section 101 of this titleSubsec. (a). , incorporated the substance of the amendment by , into this section by substituting “charterers, and mortgagees” for “and charterers”. See 2006 Amendment note below and , set out as a Legislative Purpose and Construction note preceding .

Pub. L. 109–241, § 308section 12120 of this titlePub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b)2006—, which directed the amendment of former from which subsec. (a) of this section was derived, was repealed by . See 2008 Amendment note for subsec. (a) and Historical and Revision notes above.