46 USC § 4701 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s4701"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 4701 - Definitions"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "4701"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 47
chapter_name: "ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "BARGES"
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. 102–587, title V, § 5302, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5081; amended Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 718, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3937; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7347(c)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1781.)"
---


# § 4701. Definitions

In this subchapter—

**(1)** “abandon” means to moor, strand, wreck, sink, or leave a barge of more than 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title unattended for longer than forty-five days.

**(2)** “barge removal contractor” means a person that enters into a contract with the United States to remove an abandoned barge under this subchapter.

**(3)** “navigable waters of the United States” means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea.

**(4)** “removal” or “remove” means relocation, sale, scrapping, or other method of disposal.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5302, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5081; amended Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 718, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3937; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7347(c)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1781.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—, substituted “subchapter” for “chapter” in introductory provisions.

Par. (2). , substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”.

1996—Par. (1).  inserted “as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under ” after “100 gross tons”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Application to Certain Barges

> “Chapter 47 of title 46, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) [section 5302], does not apply to a barge abandoned before
> 
> , if the barge was removed before the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this title [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

## 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.