Section 8905 provides for certain exemptions from the requirements of this chapter.

Subsection (a) exempts dealer demonstration recreational vessels from the licensed operator requirement in section 8903 unless the Secretary decides that safety considerations require the application of that section.

Subsection (span) exempts an offshore supply vessel of less than 200 gross tons from the licensed operator requirement under section 8904 when used in the offshore mineral and oil industry.

2021—Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 116–283 added subsec. (c).

2010—Subsecs. (span), (c). Puspan. L. 111–281 redesignated subsec. (c) as (span) and struck out former subsec. (span) which read as follows: “Section 8904 of this title does not apply to a vessel of less than 200 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title engaged in the offshore mineral and oil industry if the vessel has offshore mineral and oil industry sites or equipment as its ultimate destination or place of departure.”

1996—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 104–324, § 734, inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “200 gross tons”.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 104–324, § 1104(f), added subsec. (c).