USC Chapter 31

in effect

46 U.S.C. § 3101 Authority to suspend inspection

When the President decides that the needs of foreign commerce require, the President may suspend a provision of this part for a foreign-built vessel registered as a vessel of the United States on conditions the President may specify.

46 U.S.C. § 3102 Immersion suits

(a) The Secretary shall by regulation require immersion suits on vessels designated by the Secretary that operate in the Atlantic Ocean north of 32 degrees North latitude or south of 32 degrees South latitude and in all other waters north of 35 degrees North latitude or south of 35 degrees South latitude. The Secretary may not exclude a vessel from designation under this section only because that vessel carries other lifesaving equipment. (b) The Secretary shall establish standards for an immersion suit required by this section, including standards to guarantee adequate thermal protection, buoyance, and flotation stability. (c)(1) The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. (2) The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section may be fined not more than $25,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

46 U.S.C. § 3103 Use of reports, documents, and records

The Secretary may rely, as evidence of compliance with this subtitle, on— (1) reports, documents, and records of other persons who have been determined by the Secretary to be reliable; and (2) other methods the Secretary has determined to be reliable.

46 U.S.C. § 3104 Survival craft

(a) Requirement To Equip.—The Secretary shall require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival craft that ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water, if—(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion after January 1, 2016; and (2) operates in cold waters as determined by the Secretary. (b) Higher Standard of Safety.—The Secretary may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such revision provides a higher standard of safety than is provided by the regulations in effect on or before the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016. (c) Innovative and Novel Designs.—The Secretary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016, allow a passenger vessel to be equipped with a life-saving appliance or arrangement of an innovative or novel design that—(1) ensures no part of an individual is immersed in water; and (2) provides an equal or higher standard of safety than is provided by such requirements as in effect before such date of the enactment. (d) Built Defined.—In this section, the term “built” has the meaning that term has under section 4503(d).

46 U.S.C. § 3105 Electronic charts

(a) System Requirements.—(1) Electronic charts in lieu of marine charts, charts, and maps.—Subject to paragraph (2), the following vessels, while operating on the navigable waters of the United States, equipped with and operating electronic navigational charts that are produced by a government hydrographic office or conform to a standard acceptable to the Secretary, shall be deemed in compliance with any requirement under title 33 or title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to have a chart, marine chart, or map on board such vessel:(A) A self-propelled commercial vessel of at least 65 feet in overall length. (B) A vessel carrying more than a number of passengers for hire determined by the Secretary. (C) A towing vessel of more than 26 feet in overall length and 600 horsepower. (D) Any other vessel for which the Secretary decides that electronic charts are necessary for the safe navigation of the vessel. (2) Exemptions and waivers.—The Secretary may—(A) exempt a vessel from paragraph (1), if the Secretary finds that electronic charts are not necessary for the safe navigation of the vessel on the waters on which the vessel operates; (B) waive the application of paragraph (1) with respect to operation of vessels on navigable waters of the United States specified by the Secretary, if the Secretary finds that electronic charts are not needed for safe navigation on those waters; and (C) permit vessels described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) that operate solely landward of the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured to utilize software-based, platform-independent electronic chart systems that the Secretary determines are capable of displaying electronic navigational charts with necessary scale and detail to ensure safe navigation for the intended voyage. (b) Limitation on Application.—Except pursuant to an international treaty, convention, or agreement, to which the United States is a party, this section shall not apply to any foreign vessel that is not destined for, or departing from, a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and that is in—(1) innocent passage through the territorial sea of the United States; or (2) transit through the navigable waters of the United States that form a part of an international strait.

46 U.S.C. § 3106 Master key control system

(a) In General.—The owner of a vessel subject to inspection under section 3301 shall—(1) ensure that such vessel is equipped with a vessel master key control system, manual or electronic, which provides controlled access to all copies of the vessel’s master key of which access shall only be available to the individuals described in paragraph (2); (2) establish a list of all crew, identified by position, allowed to access and use the master key and maintain such list upon the vessel, within owner records and included in the vessel safety management system; (3) record in a log book information on all access and use of the vessel’s master key, including—(A) dates and times of access; (B) the room or location accessed; and (C) the name and rank of the crew member that used the master key; and (4) make the list under paragraph (2) and the log book under paragraph (3) available upon request to any agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, any member of the Coast Guard, and any law enforcement officer performing official duties in the course and scope of an investigation. (b) Prohibited Use.—Crew not included on the list described in subsection (a)(2) shall not have access to or use the master key unless in an emergency and shall immediately notify the master and owner of the vessel following use of such key. (c) Requirements for Log Book.—The log book described in subsection (a)(3) and required to be included in a safety management system under section 3203(a)(6)—(1) may be electronic; and (2) shall be located in a centralized location that is readily accessible to law enforcement personnel. (d) Penalty.—Any crew member who uses the master key without having been granted access pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 and may be subject to suspension or revocation under section 7703. (e) Exemption.—This section shall not apply to vessels subject to section 3507(f).