46 USC § 12306 - Safety certificates

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12306"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 12306 - Safety certificates"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "12306"
section_name: "Safety certificates"
chapter_number: 123
chapter_name: "NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS"
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. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)"
---


# § 12306. Safety certificates

When a State is the authority issuing a number under this chapter, it may require that the individual in charge of a numbered vessel have a valid safety certificate issued under conditions set by the issuing authority, except when the vessel is subject to manning requirements under part F of this subtitle.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 12306 | 46:1471 |

Section 12306 authorizes a State that is an issuing authority to require a numbered vessel operator to hold a valid safety certificate, unless the vessel is subject to manning requirements under part F of this subtitle.