### §14305. Optional regulatory measurement

(a) On request of the owner of a vessel measured under this chapter that is of United States registry or nationality, or a vessel operated under the authority of the United States, the Secretary also shall measure the vessel under chapter 145 of this title. The tonnages determined under that chapter shall be used in applying—

(1) parts A, B, C, E, F, and G of this subtitle and section 12116 of this title;

(2) section 3(d)(3) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 903(d)(3));

(3) section 4 of the Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act (33 U.S.C. 1203(a));

(4) section 4(a)(3) 1 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1223(a)(3));

(5) section 30524 of this title;

(6) sections 12118 and 12132 of this title;

(7) section 12139(b) of this title;

(8) sections 351, 352, 355, and 356 of the Ship Radio Act (47 U.S.C. 351, 352, 354, and 354a);

(9) section 403 of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Act (46 U.S.C. 3302 note);

(10) the Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936, and section 8304 of this title;

(11) the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea as provided by IMCO Resolution A.494 (XII) of November 19, 1981;

(12) the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as provided by IMO Resolution A.540 (XIII) of November 17, 1983;

(13) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as provided by IMO Resolution A.541 (XIII) of November 17, 1983;

(14) provisions of law establishing the threshold tonnage levels at which evidence of financial responsibility must be demonstrated; or

(15) unless otherwise provided by law, any other law of the United States in effect before July 19, 1994, and not listed by the Secretary under section 14302(c) of this title.

(b) As long as the owner of a vessel has a request in effect under subsection (a) of this section, the tonnages determined under that request shall be used in applying the other provisions of law described in subsection (a) to that vessel.

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 109–304, §15(26), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1704; Pub. L. 111–281, title III, §303(f), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2925; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], §8503(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4747; Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, §11503(f)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4131.)

#### Historical and Revision Notes

#### Revised section 14305

Source: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.

Section 14305 requires that the Secretary measure a vessel under chapter 145 (Regulatory Measurement) of this title (in addition to measuring it under the Convention) at the request of the owner. For vessels that have obtained a regulatory tonnage measurement under this section, the Secretary is required to use the regulatory tonnage measurement to determine the application of those laws listed in section 14305(a) and those not listed by the Secretary by regulation, as provided in section 14302(c). It is the intent of the Committee to list in section 14305(a) certain U.S. tonnage-based laws that would impose increased regulatory burdens on industry if the Convention measurement were used for applicability determinations.

Clause (1) of section 14305(a) includes the following parts of subtitle II of title 46, U.S.C.:

Part A: General provisions (including definitions.)

Part B: Inspection and Regulation of Vessels.

Part C: Load Lines, which is enacted as part of this legislation. Although most load line requirements are based on vessel length, and not tonnage, a few requirements are based on tonnage. (It is only the tonnage based requirements to which this provision applies.)

Part E: Licenses, Certificates, and Merchant Mariners' Documents.

Part F: Manning of Vessels.

Part G: Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief.

Part H: Sections 12106(c) and 12108(c) only—Identification of Vessels.

The other U.S. laws listed in clause (2) through (10) of this section are self-explanatory. Clause (10) refers to domestic law as well as the Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936.

In addition, three other international conventions are listed in clauses (11) through (13): (1) the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, (2) the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, and (3) the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The International Maritime Organization has established interim schemes which address the use of the Convention tonnage measurement system as a basis for the applicability of these three conventions. The applicable sections of those schemes are the following:

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea: IMCO Resolution A.494 (XII) of November 19, 1981 provides "that at the request of a shipowner, the Administration may allow a ship required to be measured under the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, to use the gross tonnage measured under the national tonnage rules which are in effect prior to the coming into force of the 1969 Tonnage Convention, for the purpose of application of the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, such tonnage, however, shall not be shown on the 1969 Tonnage Certificate." The resolution further provides that "the interim scheme shall not apply to ships the keels of which are laid after 31 December 1985 with the following exceptions:

"(a) In respect of the requirements of Regulation 3 of Chapter IV of the 1974 SOLAS Convention for ships the keels of which are laid before 18 July 1994, the Administration may continue to apply the interim scheme, in which case the above-mentioned entry should be made in the Radio-telephony Certificate only; and

"(b) In respect of the regulations for cargo ships of less than 1,600 tons gross tonnage (as measured under national systems), the keels of which are laid after 31 December 1985, the Administration may continue to apply the interim scheme until 18 July 1984."

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978: IMO Resolution A.540 (XIII) of November 17, 1983, provides "that the revised interim scheme for tonnage measurement for certain ships adopted by resolution A.494 (XII), [described above] should also be applicable in respect of the provision of the International Convention, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978."

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973: IMO Resolution A.541 (XIII) of November 17, 1983, provides that:

At the request of a shipowner, the Administration may allow a ship of less than 400 tons gross tonnage (measured under the previous national tonnage rules) the keel of which is laid on or before 31 December 1985 and which is required to be measured under the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, to use the gross tonnage measured under the national tonnage rules which were in effect prior to the coming into force of the 1969 Tonnage Convention, for the purpose of application of the provisions of MARPOL 73/78. Such tonnage, however, shall not be shown on the 1969 Tonnage Certificate.

It further provides that "the interim scheme shall not apply to ships the keels of which are laid after 31 December 1985, except that in respect of regulations for ships of less than 400 tons gross tonnage (as measured under previous national rules), the keels of which are laid after 31 December 1985, the Administration may continue to apply the interim scheme until 18 July 1994."

Clause (14) provides that the regulatory measurement system may be used to determine which vessels must demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility (when such a demonstration is required by law). If it is determined that a vessel must show evidence of financial responsibility, the limits of financial responsibility are determined using the vessel's Convention measurement.

Clause (15) provides that the regulatory measurement system may be used for the application of laws not identified by the Secretary under section 14302(c).

Section 14305(b) provides that if a vessel is measured under the regulatory tonnage measurement system for the application of one law listed in subsection (a), it must be measured under that system for the application of all laws listed in subsection (a).

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

Section 4 of the Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act (33 U.S.C. 1203(a)), referred to in subsec. (a)(3), probably means section 4(a) of the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act, which is classified to section 1203(a) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Section 4(a)(3) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1223(a)(3)), referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is section 4(a)(3) of Pub. L. 92–340, which was classified to section 1223(a)(3) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, §402(e), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4264. See Transitional and Savings Provisions note preceding section 101 of this title and section 70001 of this title.

Sections 351, 352, 355, and 356 of the Ship Radio Act (47 U.S.C. 351, 352, 354, and 354a), referred to in subsec. (a)(8), probably means sections 351, 352, 355, and 356 of the Communications Act of 1934, June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which are classified to sections 351, 352, 354, and 354a, respectively, of Title 47, Telecommunications.

The Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936, referred to in subsec. (a)(10), is set out in 54 Stat. Pt. 2, p. 1683.

For provisions relating to International Conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea, referred to in subsec. (a)(11), to which the United States has been a party, see section 1602 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and notes thereunder.

For provisions relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as modified, referred to in subsec. (a)(13), see chapter 33 (§1901 et seq.) of Title 33.

#### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted "section 30524" for "section 30506".

2021—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted "section 8304" for "sections 8303 and 8304".

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–281 substituted "vessel measured under this chapter that is of United States registry or nationality, or a vessel operated under the authority of the United States," for "documented vessel measured under this chapter," in introductory provisions.

2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(26)(A), substituted "of this subtitle and section 12116" for "and sections 12106(c) and 12108(c)".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(26)(B), substituted "section 30506 of this title" for "section 4283 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (46 App. U.S.C. 183)".

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(26)(C), substituted "sections 12118 and 12132 of this title" for "sections 27 and 27A of the Act of June 5, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883 and 883–1)".

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(26)(D), substituted "section 12139(b) of this title" for "Act of July 14, 1956 (46 App. U.S.C. 883a)".

1 See References in Text note below.