46 USC § 2109 - Public vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s2109"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 2109 - Public vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "2109"
section_name: "Public vessels"
chapter_number: 21
chapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "General Provisions"
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. 507; Pub. L. 99–509, title V, § 5102(b)(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1927; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(e)(1), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 567; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 903(a)(5)(A), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3010; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title V, § 512(c)(6)(A), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2756.)"
---


# § 2109. Public vessels

Except as otherwise provided, this subtitle does not apply to a public vessel of the United States. However, this subtitle does apply to a vessel (except a Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation vessel) owned or operated by the Department of Transportation or by any corporation organized or controlled by the Department.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 99–509, title V, § 5102(b)(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1927; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(e)(1), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 567; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 903(a)(5)(A), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3010; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title V, § 512(c)(6)(A), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2756.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 2109 | 46:36246:36346:391a(4) |

Section 2109 exempts public vessels from the applicability of the maritime safety and seamen’s welfare laws of this subtitle although some public vessels are inspected under interagency voluntary agreements.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020— substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”.

2010— amended directory language of . See 2006 Amendment note below.

2006—, as amended by , struck out “a Coast Guard or” after “(except”.

1986— substituted “Except as otherwise provided, this” for “This”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

, , , provided that the amendment by section 903(a)(5)(A) is effective with enactment of .