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33 USC § 3801 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s3801"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 3801 - Definitions"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "3801"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 51
chapter_name: "CLEAN HULLS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–281, title X, § 1011, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3023; Pub. L. 111–330, § 1(19), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3570.)"
---

# § 3801. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** **Administrator** The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

**(2)** **Antifouling system** The term “antifouling system” means a coating, paint, surface treatment, surface, or device that is used or intended to be used on a vessel to control or prevent attachment of unwanted organisms.

**(3)** **Convention** The term “Convention” means the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, including its annexes, and including any amendments to the Convention or annexes which have entered into force for the United States.

**(4)** **FPSO** The term “FPSO” means a floating production, storage, or offloading unit.

**(5)** **FSU** The term “FSU” means a floating storage unit.

**(6)** **Gross tonnage** The term “gross tonnage” as defined in chapter 143 of title 46 means the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in annex 1 to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

**(7)** **International voyage** The term “international voyage” means a voyage by a vessel entitled to fly the flag of one country to or from a port, shipyard, offshore terminal, or other place under the jurisdiction of another country.

**(8)** **Organotin** The term “organotin” means any compound or additive of tin bound to an organic ligand, that is used or intended to be used as biocide in an antifouling system.

**(9)** **Person** The term “person” means—

**(A)** any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether incorporated or not;

**(B)** any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, except as provided in section 3802(b)(2) of this title; or

**(C)** any other government entity.

**(10)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

**(11)** **Sell or distribute** The term “sell or distribute” means to distribute, sell, offer for sale, hold for distribution, hold for sale, hold for shipment, ship, deliver for shipment, release for shipment, import, export, hold for import, hold for export, or receive and (having so received) deliver or offer to deliver.

**(12)** **Vessel** section 3 of title 1

The term “vessel” has the meaning given that term in , including hydrofoil boats, air cushion watercraft, submersibles, floating craft, fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units, and floating production, storage, and offloading units.

**(13)** **Territorial sea** December 27, 1988

The term “territorial sea” means the territorial sea as described in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928 on .

**(14)** **United States** The term “United States” means the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and any other territory or possession over which the United States has jurisdiction.

**(15)** **Use** The term “use” includes application, reapplication, installation, or any other employment of an antifouling system.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–281, title X, § 1011, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3023; Pub. L. 111–330, § 1(19), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3570.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title X of , , , which enacted this chapter and repealed chapter 37 (§ 2401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of title X to the Code, see Tables.

Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, referred to in par. (13), is set out under , Public Lands.

### Amendments

2010—Par. (9)(B).  made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

, , , provided that the amendment made by section 1(19) is effective with the enactment of .