# § 12112. Coastwise endorsement
**(a)** **Requirements.—** A coastwise endorsement may be issued for a vessel that—
**(1)** satisfies the requirements of section 12103 of this title;
**(2)**
**(A)** was built in the United States; or
**(B)** if not built in the United States—
**(i)** was captured in war by citizens of the United States and lawfully condemned as prize;
**(ii)** was adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United States; or
**(iii)** qualifies as a wrecked vessel under section 12107 of this title; and
**(3)** otherwise qualifies under the laws of the United States to engage in the coastwise trade.
**(b)** **Authorized Activity.—** Subject to the laws of the United States regulating the coastwise trade, a vessel for which a coastwise endorsement is issued may engage in the coastwise trade.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1495.)
| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 12112(a) | 46:12106(a). | |
| 12112(b) | 46:12106(b). | |
In subsection (b), the word “only” is omitted because section 12102(a), as revised by the bill, contains a general requirement for appropriate documentation to engage in any trade.
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 12112, , , ; , , ; , , , originally derived from section 65p of former Title 46, Shipping, related to vessels procured outside the United States, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Certain Vessels Engaged in Alaska Coastwise Trade
> **“(1)** **In general.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person shall be treated as a citizen of the United States under section 12102(a) [now section 12103(a), (b)] of title 46, United States Code, section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 ([former] 46 U.S.C. App. 802) [see 46 U.S.C. 50501], and section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 ([former] 46 U.S.C. App. 883) [see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of this title], for purposes of issuance of a coastwise endorsement under section 12106(e) of title 46, United States Code (as that section was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 9, 2004]), for a vessel owned by the person on the date of enactment of this Act, or any replacement vessel of a similar size and function, if the person—
>
> **“(A)** owned a vessel before January 1, 2001, that had a coastwise endorsement under [former] section 12106(e) of title 46, United States Code; and
>
> **“(B)** as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 9, 2004], derives substantially all of its revenue from leasing vessels engaged in the transportation or distribution of petroleum products and other cargo in Alaska.
>
> **“(2)** **Limitation on coastwise trade.—** A vessel owned by a person described in paragraph (1) for which a coastwise endorsement is issued under [former] section 12106(e) of title 46, United States Code, may be employed in the coastwise trade only within Alaska and in the coastwise trade to and from Alaska.
>
> **“(3)** **Termination.—** The application of this subsection to a person described in paragraph (1) shall terminate if all of that person’s vessels described in paragraph (1) are sold to a person eligible to document vessels under section 12106(a) [now section 12112(a)] of title 46, United States Code.”
, , , provided that: