46 USC § 50503 - Oceanographic research vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s50503"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 50503 - Oceanographic research vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "50503"
section_name: "Oceanographic research vessels"
chapter_number: 505
chapter_name: "OTHER GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "General"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1567.)"
---


# § 50503. Oceanographic research vessels

section 2101 of this title

An oceanographic research vessel (as defined in ) is deemed not to be engaged in trade or commerce.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1567.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50503 | 46 App.:441. | Pub. L. 89–99, §§ 1, 3, 4, July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 424. |
|  | 46 App.:443. |  |
|  | 46 App.:444. |  |

The definitions of “oceanographic research vessel” and “scientific personnel” in 46 App. U.S.C. 441 are omitted because substantially the same definitions are already in .

The text of 46 App. U.S.C. 444 is omitted because , which defines “seaman” for purposes of part G of subtitle II of title 46, already contains an exception for scientific personnel. Title 53 of the Revised Statutes, referred to [in] 46 App. U.S.C. 444, was previously codified principally in part G of subtitle II of title 46.