CHAPTER 141—GENERAL

        

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, §603(12)(B), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2993, struck out item 14102 "Regulations".

§14101. Definitions

In this part—

(1) "Convention" means the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

(2) "existing vessel" means a vessel the keel of which was laid or that was at a similar stage of construction before July 18, 1982.

(3) "Great Lakes" means—

(A) the Great Lakes; and

(B) the St. Lawrence River west of—

(i) a rhumb line drawn from Cap des Rosiers to West Point, Anticosti Island; and

(ii) on the north side of Anticosti Island, the meridian of longitude 63 degrees west.

(4) "vessel that engages on a foreign voyage" means a vessel—

(A) that arrives at a place under the jurisdiction of the United States from a place in a foreign country;

(B) that makes a voyage between places outside the United States;

(C) that departs from a place under the jurisdiction of the United States for a place in a foreign country; or

(D) that makes a voyage between a place within a territory or possession of the United States and another place under the jurisdiction of the United States not within that territory or possession.

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1919; Pub. L. 111–281, title III, §303(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2923.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14101

Source: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.

Section 14101 contains definitions that are limited to Part J—Measurement of Vessels. The source of these definitions is the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships in articles 2 and 4.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Par. (4). Pub. L. 111–281, §303(a)(1), substituted "that engages" for "engaged" in introductory provisions.

Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 111–281, §303(a)(2), substituted "that arrives" for "arriving".

Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 111–281, §303(a)(3), substituted "that makes" for "making" and struck out "(except a foreign vessel engaged on that voyage)" after "United States".

Par. (4)(C). Pub. L. 111–281, §303(a)(4), substituted "that departs" for "departing".

Par. (4)(D). Pub. L. 111–281, §303(a)(5), substituted "that makes" for "making".

[§14102. Repealed. Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, §603(12)(A), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2993]

Section, Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1919, authorized Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out this part.

§14103. Delegation of authority

(a) The Secretary may delegate to a qualified person the authority to measure a vessel and issue an International Tonnage Certificate (1969) or other appropriate certificate of measurement under this part.

(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a decision of the person delegated authority under subsection (a) of this section related to measuring a vessel or issuing a certificate may be appealed to the Secretary.

(c) For a vessel that engages on a foreign voyage, the Secretary may delegate to another country that is a party to the Convention the authority to measure the vessel and issue an International Tonnage Certificate (1969) under chapter 143 of this title.

(d) The Secretary may terminate a delegation made under this section after giving written notice to the person.

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1919; Pub. L. 111–281, title III, §303(b), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2924.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14103

Source: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.

Section 14103(a) authorizes the Secretary to delegate to a qualified person the authority to measure a vessel and issue an International Tonnage Certificate or other certificate of measurement. The term "qualified person" means an organization that the Secretary believes has the necessary qualifications to measure a vessel competently, such as the American Bureau of Shipping.

The conferees intend that in section 14103 the term "qualified person" includes not only organizations that the Secretary finds to be qualified to perform measurement duties, but any person as that term is defined in section 1 of title 1, United States Code (including individuals), that the Secretary determines qualified to perform measurement duties. The House and Senate conferees also agree that, where authorized, in addition to information required by the Secretary, regulatory tonnage should be used on all certificates and documents related to a vessel unless the owner otherwise requests.

Section 14103(b) provides for the appeal to the Secretary of a decision made by a person that has received delegated authority. This ensures that the Secretary has full oversight of delegated tonnage measurement functions.

Section 14103(c) authorizes the Secretary to delegate to a country that is a party to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, the authority to measure a vessel and issue an International Tonnage Certificate.

Section 14103(d) clarifies the Secretary's authority to revoke at any time and without cause a delegation of authority to measure a vessel or issue a certificate. This authority is given so that no delay occurs administratively in revoking a delegation wherever the Secretary decides a revocation is warranted.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–281 substituted "that engages on" for "intended to be engaged on".

§14104. Measurement to determine application of a law

(a) When the application of a law of the United States to a vessel depends on the vessel's tonnage, the vessel shall be measured under this part.

(b) If a statute allows for an alternate tonnage to be prescribed under this section, the Secretary may prescribe it by regulation. Any such regulation shall be considered to be an interpretive regulation for purposes of section 553 of title 5. Until an alternate tonnage is prescribed, the statutorily established tonnage shall apply to vessels measured under chapter 143 or chapter 145 of this title.

(c) The head of each Federal agency shall ensure that regulations issued by the agency that specify particular tonnages comply with the alternate tonnages implemented by the Secretary.

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1920; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, §702, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3933.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14104

Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 71.

Section 14104 requires that a vessel be measured under Part J of this subtitle when the application of a U.S. law to the vessel depends on its tonnage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–324 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) and (c).