46 USC § 8901 - Freight vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s8901"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 8901 - Freight vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "8901"
section_name: "Freight vessels"
chapter_number: 89
chapter_name: "SMALL VESSEL MANNING"
part_number: "F"
part_name: "Manning of Vessels"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 733, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3941.)"
---


# § 8901. Freight vessels

section 14502 of this titlesection 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title

A freight vessel of less than 100 gross tons as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under  shall be operated by an individual licensed by the Secretary to operate that type of vessel in the particular geographic area, under prescribed regulations.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 733, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3941.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 8901 | 46:390b |

Section 8901 requires that a freight vessel of less than 100 gross tons be operated by a licensed individual for that type vessel and for a particular geographic area.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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