US Code

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

46 U.S.C. § 55605

Definitions

In this chapter:
(1)
The term “marine highway transportation” means the carriage by a documented vessel of cargo (including such carriage of cargo and passengers), if such cargo—
(A)
is—
(i)
contained in intermodal cargo containers and loaded by crane on the vessel;
(ii)
loaded on the vessel by means of wheeled technology, including roll-on roll-off cargo;
(iii)
shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation;
(iv)
bulk, liquid, or loose cargo loaded in tanks, holds, hoppers, or on deck; or
(v)
freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats; and
(B)
is—
(i)
loaded at a port in the United States and unloaded either at another port in the United States or at a port in Canada or Mexico; or
(ii)
loaded at a port in Canada or Mexico and unloaded at a port in the United States.
(2)
25 U.S.C. 5131 The term “Tribal government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently, as of the date of enactment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ().
(3)
43 U.S.C. 1602 The term “Alaska Native Corporation” has the meaning given the term “Native Corporation” under section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ().

Pub. L. 110–140, title XI, § 1121(a)121 Stat. 1761Pub. L. 112–213, title IV, § 405(b)126 Stat. 1571Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3508129 Stat. 1223Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII134 Stat. 4705Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXV, § 3521(d)(1)136 Stat. 3079(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; [LXXXIII], § 8332(d)(6), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 117–263The date of enactment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, referred to in par. (2), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–2632022— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined the term “marine highway transportation” as used in this chapter.

Pub. L. 116–2832021— substituted “Marine highway” for “Short sea” in section catchline and “marine highway transportation” for “short sea transportation” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 114–922015—Par. (1)(C), (D). added subpars. (C) and (D).

Pub. L. 112–2132012—, which directed amendment of section 55605, without specifying the title to be amended, by substituting “by a documented vessel” for “by vessel” in the matter preceding par. (1), was executed to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140section 1824 of Title 2Section effective 1 day after , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.