46 USC § 55334 - Restrictions on operations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s55334"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 55334 - Restrictions on operations"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "55334"
section_name: "Restrictions on operations"
chapter_number: 553
chapter_name: "PASSENGER AND CARGO PREFERENCES"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "AMERICAN GREAT LAKES VESSELS"
part_number: "D"
part_name: "Promotional Programs"
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(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1649.)"
---


# § 55334. Restrictions on operations

**(a)** **Prohibitions.—** Except as provided in subsection (b), an American Great Lakes vessel may not be used to—

**(1)** engage in trade—

**(A)** from a port in the United States that is not located on the Great Lakes; or

**(B)** between ports in the United States;

**(2)** transport bulk cargo (as defined in section 40102 of this title) that is subject to section 55305 or 55314 of this title or section 2631 of title 10; or

**(3)** provide a service (except ocean freight service) as—

**(A)** a contract carrier; or

**(B)** a common carrier on a fixed advertised schedule offering frequent sailings at regular intervals in the foreign trade of the United States.

**(b)** **Off-Season Exception.—** An American Great Lakes vessel may be used for not more than 90 days during any 12-month period to engage in trade prohibited by subsection (a)(1)(A), except during the Great Lakes shipping season.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1649.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 55334 | 46 App.:1241s. | Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, § 1523, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3666. |