33 USC § 1601 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s1601"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 1601 - Definitions"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "1601"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 30
chapter_name: "INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 95–75, § 2, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308.)"
---


# § 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 95–75, § 2, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in opening par., was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the “International Navigational Rules Act of 1977”, which enacted this chapter, repealed sections 1051 to 1094 of this title, enacted provisions set out as notes under this section, and repealed provision set out as a note under .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of International Regulations; Repeal of Former Regulations

, , , provided in part that , enacting sections 1051 to 1094 of this title and a provision set out as a note under  which sections included the former International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, was repealed effective on the date on which the International Regulations [promulgated pursuant to this chapter] entered into force for the United States []. See Proclamation dated , set out as a note under .

### References to Former Regulations

> “The reference in any other law to
> 
> [enacting sections 1051 to 1094 of this title and enacting a provision set out as a note under
> 
> ], or to the regulations set forth in section 4 of that Act [sections 1061 to 1094 of this title], shall be considered a reference, respectively, to this Act [this chapter], or to the International Regulations proclaimed hereunder [set out as a note under
> 
> ].”

, , , provided in part that:

### Short Title

> “That this Act [enacting this chapter, repealing sections 1051 to 1094 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, and repealing provisions set out as a note under
> 
> ] may be cited as the ‘International Navigational Rules Act of 1977’.”

, , , provided: