14 USC § 3908 - Vessel deemed public vessel

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s3908"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 3908 - Vessel deemed public vessel"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "3908"
section_name: "Vessel deemed public vessel"
chapter_number: 39
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD AUXILIARY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555, § 827; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, § 406, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924; renumbered § 3908 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 119(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4236, 4240.)"
---


# § 3908. Vessel deemed public vessel

While assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty, any motorboat or yacht shall be deemed to be a public vessel of the United States and a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of sections 937 and 938 of this title and other applicable provisions of law.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555, § 827; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, § 406, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924; renumbered § 3908 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 119(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4236, 4240.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 266 (, title I, § 7, ).

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—, substituted “sections 937 and 938” for “sections 646 and 647”.

, renumbered  as this section.

1996— reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Any motorboat or yacht, while assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty shall be deemed to be a public vessel of the United States, and within the meaning of  shall be deemed to be a vessel of the Coast Guard.”