46 USC § 70301 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s70301"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 70301 - Definitions"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "70301"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 703
chapter_name: "MARITIME SECURITY"
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, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1683.)"
---


# § 70301. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** **Common carrier.—** The term “common carrier” has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of this title.

**(2)** **Passenger vessel.—** The term “passenger vessel” has the meaning given that term in section 2101 of this title.

**(3)** **Secretary.—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1683.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 70301 | 46 App.:1807. | Pub. L. 99–399, title IX, § 911, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 892. |

In paragraph (2), the term “vessel of the United States” is omitted because the definition of that term in  is being moved to chapter 1 of the revised title and will apply generally throughout the title.

In paragraph (3), the definition of “Secretary” is new. The functions of the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter were carried out by the Coast Guard, and its functions have been transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (except when operating as a service in the Navy) by section 888 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (, ).