46 USC § 4305 - Exemptions and equivalents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s4305"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 4305 - Exemptions and equivalents"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "4305"
section_name: "Exemptions and equivalents"
chapter_number: 43
chapter_name: "RECREATIONAL VESSELS"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Inspection and Regulation 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. 531; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII [LXXXIII], § 8318(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4700.)"
---


# § 4305. Exemptions and equivalents

**(a)** **Exemptions.—** If the Secretary considers that recreational vessel safety will not be adversely affected, the Secretary may issue an exemption from this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.

**(b)** **Equivalents.—** The Secretary may accept a substitution for associated equipment performance or other safety standards for a recreational vessel if the substitution provides an equivalent level of safety.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 531; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII [LXXXIII], § 8318(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4700.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 4305 | 46:1458 |

Section 4305 permits the Secretary to grant appropriate exemptions from the requirements of this chapter when recreational vessel safety will not be adversely affected.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021— substituted “Exemptions and equivalents” for “Exemptions” in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).