46 USC § 4506 - Exemptions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s4506"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 4506 - Exemptions"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "4506"
section_name: "Exemptions"
chapter_number: 45
chapter_name: "UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY 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: "(Added Pub. L. 100–424, § 2(a), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1587; amended Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5222, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5081; Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 301(b)(6), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3417; Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 604(b), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2964; Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 306(a)(5), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 54.)"
---


# § 4506. Exemptions

The Secretary may exempt a vessel from any part of this chapter if, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary (including regulations on special operating conditions), the Secretary finds that—

**(1)** good cause exists for granting an exemption; and

**(2)** the safety of the vessel and those on board will not be adversely affected.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 100–424, § 2(a), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1587; amended Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5222, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5081; Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 301(b)(6), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3417; Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 604(b), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2964; Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 306(a)(5), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 54.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016— struck out subsec. (a) designation before “The Secretary may”.

2010—Subsec. (b).  struck out subsec. (b) which read as follows: “A vessel to which this chapter applies is exempt from  if it—

“(1) is less than 36 feet in length; and

“(2) is operating—

“(A) in internal waters of the United States; or

“(B) within 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured.”

1998—Subsec. (b)(2).  added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “is not operating on the high seas.”

1992—Subsec. (b).  substituted “4502(b)(2)(B)” for “4502(b)(2)”.

## Executive Documents

### Territorial Sea of United States

For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under , Public Lands.