46 USC § 12102 - Vessels requiring documentation

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12102"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 12102 - Vessels requiring documentation"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "12102"
section_name: "Vessels requiring documentation"
chapter_number: 121
chapter_name: "DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "H"
part_name: "Identification of Vessels"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1492; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 901(c)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3008.)"
---


# § 12102. Vessels requiring documentation

**(a)** **In General.—** Except as otherwise provided, a vessel may engage in a trade only if the vessel has been issued a certificate of documentation with an endorsement for that trade under this chapter.

**(b)** **Vessels Less Than 5 Net Tons.—** A vessel of less than 5 net tons may engage in a trade without being documented if the vessel otherwise satisfies the requirements to engage in the particular trade.

**(c)** **Barges.—** A barge qualified to engage in the coastwise trade may engage in the coastwise trade, without being documented, on rivers, harbors, lakes (except the Great Lakes), canals, and inland waters.

**(d)** **Aquaculture Waiver.—**

**(1)** **Permitting of nonqualified vessels to perform certain aquaculture support operations.—** Notwithstanding section 12113 and any other law, the Secretary of Transportation may issue a waiver allowing a documented vessel with a registry endorsement or a foreign flag vessel to be used in operations that treat aquaculture fish for or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic infestation, or other threats to their health if the Secretary finds, after publishing a notice in the Federal Register, that a suitable vessel of the United States is not available that could perform those services.

**(2)** **Prohibition.—** Vessels operating under a waiver issued under this subsection may not engage in any coastwise transportation.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1492; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 901(c)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3008.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 12102(a) | 46:12106(b). |  |
|  | 46:12108(b). |  |
|  | 46:12110(a). |  |
| 12102(b) | 46:12102(a) (related to tonnage). |  |
| 12102(c) | 46:12110(b). |  |

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12102, , , ; , , ; , , ; , (5), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 401(a)(1), 421, , , 3439; , , ; , , ; , , , originally derived from section 65b of former Title 46, Shipping, related to vessels eligible for documentation, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See this section and sections 12103, 12111, and 12113 of this title.

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d).  added subsec. (d).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Regulations

> “The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall, in accordance with
> 
> , United States Code, and after public notice and comment, promulgate regulations necessary and appropriate to implement this subsection [amending this section]. The Secretary may grant interim permits pending the issuance of such regulations upon receipt of applications containing the required information.”

, , , provided that: