Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 402(7)(C)98 Stat. 447Pub. L. 98–557, § 33(a)98 Stat. 2876Pub. L. 100–424, § 2(a)102 Stat. 1585Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, § 602(c)104 Stat. 2990Pub. L. 104–324, title III, § 307110 Stat. 3918Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 301(b)(5)112 Stat. 3417Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 604(a)124 Stat. 2962Pub. L. 112–213, title III, § 305(a)126 Stat. 1564Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 309128 Stat. 3045Pub. L. 115–282, title V132 Stat. 4271Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII134 Stat. 4701Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXIII, § 11328(a)136 Stat. 4098Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7313139 Stat. 1761(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , , ; , §§ 504–506, , ; [LXXXIII], § 8321(a), (b), , ; , title CXV, § 11509(a)(1), , , 4137; , , .)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–60, § 7313(1)2025—Subsec. (i)(4). , substituted “each of fiscal years 2026, and 2027” for “fiscal year 2023”.
Pub. L. 119–60, § 7313(2)Subsec. (j)(4). , substituted “each of fiscal years 2026, and 2027.” for “fiscal year 2023”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 11509(a)(1)2022—Subsec. (f)(2). , substituted “vessels described in subsection (b) if—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for “certain vessels described in subsection (b) if requested by the owner or operator; and”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 11328(a)(1)Subsec. (i)(4). , substituted “fiscal year 2023” for “each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 11328(a)(2)Subsec. (j)(4). , substituted “fiscal year 2023” for “each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021”.
Pub. L. 116–283, § 8321(a)(1)2021—Subsec. (i)(3). , substituted “75 percent” for “50 percent”.
Pub. L. 116–283, § 8321(a)(2)Subsec. (i)(4). , substituted “2021” for “2019”.
Pub. L. 116–283, § 8321(b)(1)Subsec. (j)(3). , substituted “75 percent” for “50 percent”.
Pub. L. 116–283, § 8321(b)(2)Subsec. (j)(4). , substituted “2021” for “2019”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 504(1)2018—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , substituted “subject to paragraph (3), a survival craft” for “a survival craft”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 504(2)Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3).
Pub. L. 115–282, § 505Subsec. (f)(2), (3). , added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3) which read as follows:
“(2) shall examine at dockside a vessel described in subsection (b) at least once every 5 years, and shall issue a certificate of compliance to a vessel meeting the requirements of this chapter; and
“(3) shall complete the first dockside examination of a vessel under this subsection not later than .”
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(1)Subsec. (i)(1). , substituted “Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretary” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(1)Subsec. (i)(2). , (2), substituted “Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretary” and inserted “, in consultation with and based on criteria established by the Commandant of the Coast Guard” before “shall award”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(3)Subsec. (i)(3). , substituted “50” for “75”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(4)Subsec. (i)(4). , substituted “$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2019” for “$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(1)Subsec. (j)(1). , substituted “Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretary”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(1)Subsec. (j)(2). , (5), substituted “Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretary” and inserted “, in consultation with and based on criteria established by the Commandant of the Coast Guard,” before “shall award”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(6)Subsec. (j)(3). , substituted “50” for “75”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 506(7)Subsec. (j)(4). , substituted “$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2019” for “$3,000,000 for each fiscal years 2015 through 2017”.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 504(3)Subsec. (k). , added subsec. (k).
Pub. L. 113–281, § 309(a)2014—Subsec. (i)(4). , substituted “2015 through 2017” for “2010 through 2014”.
Pub. L. 113–281, § 309(b)Subsec. (j)(4). , substituted “2015 through 2017” for “2010 through 2014”.
Pub. L. 112–213, § 305(a)(2)(A)2012—Subsec. (f)(2). , substituted “at least once every 5 years” for “at least once every 2 years”.
Pub. L. 112–213, § 305(a)(1)Subsec. (f)(3). , (2)(B), (3), added par. (3).
Pub. L. 112–213, § 305(b)Subsec. (g)(4). , substituted “an electronic” for “a publicly accessible electronic”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(1)(A)2010—Subsec. (a)(6). , added par. (6) and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows: “a buoyant apparatus, if the vessel is of a type required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary to be equipped with that apparatus;”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(1)Subsec. (a)(7), (8). , redesignated par. (8) as (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: “alerting and locating equipment, including emergency position indicating radio beacons, on vessels that operate beyond 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured, and which are owned in the United States or beyond 3 nautical miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes; and”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(A)Subsec. (b)(1). , struck out “documented” before “vessels”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(B)Subsec. (b)(1)(A). , substituted “3 nautical miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured or beyond 3 nautical miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes” for “the Boundary Line”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(C)Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , substituted “a survival craft that ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water” for “lifeboats or liferafts”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(D)Subsec. (b)(2)(D). , inserted “marine” before “radio communications”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(E)Subsec. (b)(2)(E). , substituted “nautical charts, and publications” for “radar reflectors, nautical charts, and anchors”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(F)Subsec. (b)(2)(F). , substituted “and medical supplies sufficient for the size and area of operation of the vessel” for “, including medicine chests”.
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(2)(G)Subsec. (b)(2)(G). , amended subpar. (G) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (G) read as follows: “other equipment required to minimize the risk of injury to the crew during vessel operations, if the Secretary determines that a risk of serious injury exists that can be eliminated or mitigated by that equipment.”
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(3)Subsec. (f). , amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows: “To ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter, at least once every 2 years the Secretary shall examine—
“(1) a fish processing vessel; and
“(2) a fish tender vessel engaged in the Aleutian trade.”
Pub. L. 111–281, § 604(a)(4)Subsecs. (g) to (j). , added subsecs. (g) to (j).
Pub. L. 105–3831998—Subsec. (a)(7). substituted “beyond 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured, and which are owned in the United States” for “on the high seas”.
Pub. L. 104–3241996—Subsec. (a)(7). inserted “or beyond 3 nautical miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes” after “high seas”.
Pub. L. 101–595, § 602(c)(1)1990—Subsec. (b). , amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations for documented vessels to which this chapter applies that operate beyond the Boundary Line or that operate with more than 16 individuals on board, for the installation, maintenance, and use of—
“(1) alerting and locating equipment, including emergency position indicating radio beacons;
“(2) lifeboats or liferafts sufficient to accommodate all individuals on board;
section 3102 of this title“(3) at least one readily accessible immersion suit for each individual on board that vessel when operating on the waters described in ;
“(4) radio communications equipment sufficient to effectively communicate with land-based search and rescue facilities;
“(5) navigation equipment, including compasses, radar reflectors, nautical charts, and anchors;
“(6) first aid equipment, including medicine chests; and
“(7) other equipment required to minimize the risk of injury to the crew during vessel operations, if the Secretary determines that a risk of serious injury exists that can be eliminated or mitigated by that equipment.”
Pub. L. 101–595, § 602(c)(1)Subsec. (c). , amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “In addition to the requirements described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary may prescribe regulations establishing minimum safety standards for vessels to which this chapter applies that were built after , or that undergo a major conversion completed after that date, and that operate with more than 16 individuals on board, including standards relating to—
“(1) navigation equipment, including radars and fathometers;
“(2) life saving equipment, immersion suits, signaling devices, bilge pumps, bilge alarms, life rails, and grab rails;
“(3) fire protection and firefighting equipment, including fire alarms and portable and semiportable fire extinguishing equipment;
“(4) use and installation of insulation material;
“(5) storage methods for flammable or combustible material; and
“(6) fuel, ventilation, and electrical systems.”
Pub. L. 101–595, § 602(c)(2)Subsec. (f). , amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows: “The Secretary shall examine a fish processing vessel at least once every two years to ensure that the vessel complies with the requirements of this chapter.”
Pub. L. 100–4241988— amended section generally, substituting “Safety standards” for “Regulations” in section catchline, adding subsecs. (a) and (b), redesignating former subsec. (a) as (c) and establishing list of standards as minimum safety standards, in addition to requirements of subsecs. (a) and (b), for vessels built after , or that undergo major conversion completed after that date, that operate with more than 16 individuals on board, adding subsec. (d), redesignating former subsec. (b) as (e) and striking out provisions which required Secretary to consult with representatives of private sector, experienced in operation of these vessels, to ensure practicability of regulations, and adding subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 98–5571984—Subsec. (b)(3). substituted “this chapter” for “the exemption”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, § 602(f)104 Stat. 2992
Construction of 2022 Amendment
Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11509(b)136 Stat. 4137
Improvements to Communication With Fishing Industry and Related Stakeholders
Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXIII, § 11322136 Stat. 4094
In General .—
Automatic Communications .—
Fishing Safety Grants
Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII134 Stat. 4702
Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety National Communications Plan
Pub. L. 115–282, title VIII, § 830132 Stat. 4315
Requirement for Plan .—
Content .—
Implementation .—
Report and Updates .—
Studies Regarding Safety of Fishing Vessels
Pub. L. 100–424, § 5(a)102 Stat. 1591, , , directed Secretary of Transportation, utilizing National Academy of Engineering and in consultation with National Transportation Safety Board, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee, and fishing industry, to conduct a study of safety problems on fishing industry vessels, and to make recommendations regarding whether a vessel inspection program could be implemented for fishing vessels, fish tender vessels, and fish processing vessels, including recommendations on nature and scope of that inspection, and further provided for submission of the study and recommendations to Congress before .
Pub. L. 100–424, § 5(b)102 Stat. 1591section 4508 of this title, , , directed Secretary of department in which Coast Guard is operating, in consultation with Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee established under former , and with representatives of persons operating fish processing vessels to conduct a study of fish processing vessels that are not surveyed and classed by an organization approved by Secretary, and to make recommendations regarding what hull and machinery requirements could apply to such vessels to ensure that those vessels are operated and maintained in a condition in which they are safe to operate at sea, and further provided for submission of such study and recommendations to Congress before .
Executive Documents
Territorial Sea of United States
section 1331 of Title 43For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under , Public Lands.