1. U.S. Code
  2. title 33
  3. chapter 30
  4. § 1601

Collapse to view only § 1601. Definitions

§ 1601. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter—
(1) “vessel” means every description of watercraft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; and
(2) “high seas” means all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of any nation.
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 2, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1601

§ 1602. International Regulations
(a) Proclamation by President; effective date
(b) Publication of proclamation in Federal Register
(c) Amendment of International Regulations
(d) Notification to Congress of proposed amendments; Congressional resolution of disapproval
(1) Upon receiving a proposed amendment to the International Regulations, communicated to the United States pursuant to clause 3 of article VI of the Convention, the President shall promptly notify the Congress of the proposed amendment. If, within sixty days after receipt of such notification by the Congress, or ten days prior to the date under clause 4 of article VI for registering an objection, whichever comes first, the Congress adopts a resolution of disapproval, such resolution shall be transmitted to the President and shall constitute an objection by the United States to the proposed amendment. If, upon receiving notification of the resolution of disapproval, the President has not already notified the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization of an objection to the United States to the proposed amendment, he shall promptly do so.
(2) For the purposes of this subsection, “resolution of disapproval” means a concurrent resolution initiated by either House of the Congress, the matter after the resolving clause of which is to read as follows: “That the        (the        concurring) does not favor the proposed amendment to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, relating to          , and forwarded to the Congress by the President on       .”, the first blank space therein to be filled with the name of the resolving House, the second blank space therein to be filled with the name of the concurring House, the third blank space therein to be filled with the subject matter of the proposed amendment, and the fourth blank space therein to be filled with the day, month, and year.
(3) Any proposed amendment transmitted to the Congress by the President and any resolution of disapproval pertaining thereto shall be referred, in the House of Representatives, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and shall be referred, in the Senate, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 3, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308; Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 408(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2117.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1602

§ 1603. Vessels subject to International Regulations
Except as provided in section 1604 of this title and subject to the provisions of section 1605 of this title, the International Regulations, as proclaimed under section 1602 of this title, shall be applicable to, and shall be complied with by—
(1) all vessels, public and private, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, while upon the high seas or in waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels, and
(2) all other vessels when on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 4, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 309.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1603

§ 1604. Vessels not subject to International Regulations
(a) The International Regulations do not apply to vessels while in the waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States.
(b) Whenever a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States is in the territorial waters of a foreign state the International Regulations shall be applicable to, and shall be complied with by, that vessel to the extent that the laws and regulations of the foreign state are not in conflict therewith.
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 5, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 309; Pub. L. 96–591, § 6(1), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3434.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1604

§ 1605. Navy and Coast Guard vessels of special construction or purpose
(a) Certification for alternative compliance
(b) Closest possible compliance by vessels covered by certification for alternative compliance
(c) Publication of certifications in Federal Register
(d) Issuance of certification for a class of vessels
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 6, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 309; Pub. L. 96–591, § 6(2), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3434.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1605

§ 1606. Special rules for ships of war, vessels proceeding under convoy, and fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet
(a) The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to promulgate special rules with respect to additional station or signal lights or whistle signals for ships of war or vessels proceeding under convoy, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is authorized to promulgate special rules with respect to additional station or signal lights for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet.
(b) The additional station or signal lights or whistle signals contained in the special rules authorized under subsection (a) of this section shall be, as far as possible, such that they cannot be mistaken for any light or signal authorized by the International Regulations. Notice of such special rules shall be published in the Federal Register and, after the effective date specified in such notice, they shall have effect as if they were a part of the International Regulations.
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 7, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 310.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1606

§ 1607. Implementation by rules and regulations; authority to promulgate

The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is authorized to promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter and the International Regulations proclaimed hereunder.

(Pub. L. 95–75, § 8, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 310.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1607

§ 1608. Civil penalties
(a) Liability of vessel operator for violations
(b) Liability of vessel for violations; seizure of vessel
(c) Assessment of penalties; notice; opportunity for hearing; remission, mitigation, and compromise of penalty; action for collection
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 9, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 310; Pub. L. 96–591, § 6(3), (4), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435.)

CITE AS: 33 USC 1608