Definitions
46 U.S.C. § 53901
in effectIn this chapter:
(1) American vessel.—The term “American vessel” includes—(A) a documented vessel with a registry or coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of this title; (B) an undocumented vessel owned or chartered by or made available to the United States Government; and (C) a tug, barge, or other watercraft (whether or not documented) owned by a citizen of the United States and used in essential water transportation or in the fisheries, except only for sport fishing.
(2) Cargo.—The term “cargo” includes a loaded or empty container on a vessel.
(3) Transportation in the waterborne commerce of the united states.—The term “transportation in the waterborne commerce of the United States” includes the operation of a vessel in the fisheries, except only for sport fishing.
(4) War risks.—The term “war risks” includes, to the extent the Secretary of Transportation determines—(A) any part of a loss excluded from marine insurance coverage under a “free of capture or seizure” clause or analogous clause; and (B) any other loss from a hostile act, including confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, or deprivation.
Source: OLRC USLMURL: https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/95/xml_usc46@119-95.zipFetched: 6/7/2026
