# § 3311. Certificate of inspection required
**(a)** Except as provided in subsection (b), a vessel subject to inspection under this part may not be operated without having on board a certificate of inspection issued under section 3309 of this title.
**(b)** The Secretary may direct the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel subject to inspection under this chapter and not having on board a certificate of inspection—
**(1)** to have the vessel proceed to mooring and remain there until a certificate of inspection is issued;
**(2)** to take immediate steps necessary for the safety of the vessel, individuals on board the vessel, or the environment; or
**(3)** to have the vessel proceed to a place to make repairs necessary to obtain a certificate of inspection.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 515; Pub. L. 98–498, title II, § 211(b), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2304.)
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 3311 | 46:390c46:39546:399 |
Section 3311 prohibits the operation of a vessel subject to inspection without having on board a valid certificate of inspection.
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
1984— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (b), a vessel” for “A vessel”, struck out “valid” before “certificate of inspection”, and added subsec. (b).
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section effective , see , set out as a note under .