Skip to content
LexBuild

46 USC § 12117 - Oil spill response vessels 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12117"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 12117 - Oil spill response vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "12117"
section_name: "Oil spill response vessels"
chapter_number: 121
chapter_name: "DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "ENDORSEMENTS AND SPECIAL DOCUMENTATION"
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. 1499.)"
---

# § 12117. Oil spill response vessels

**(a)** **Requirements.—** A coastwise endorsement may be issued for a vessel that—

**(1)** satisfies the requirements for a coastwise endorsement, except for the ownership requirement otherwise applicable without regard to this section;

**(2)** is owned by a not-for-profit oil spill response cooperative or by members of such a cooperative that dedicate the vessel to use by the cooperative;

**(3)** is at least 50 percent owned by individuals or entities described in section 12103(b) of this title; and

**(4)** is to be used only for—

**(i)** deploying equipment, supplies, and personnel to recover, contain, or transport oil discharged into the navigable waters of the United States or the exclusive economic zone; or

**(ii)** training exercises to prepare to respond to such a discharge.

**(b)** **Deemed Owned by Citizens.—** A vessel satisfying subsection (a) is deemed to be owned only by citizens of the United States under sections 12103, 12132, and 50501 of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1499.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 12117 | 46:12106(d). |  |

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12117, , , ; , , , originally derived from section 65q of former Title 46, Shipping, related to recording of United States built vessels, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See .