46 U.S.C. § 3702 (SHIPPING)
§ 3702. Application
(a) Subject to subsections (b)–(e) of this section, this chapter applies to a tank vessel.
(b) This chapter does not apply to a documented vessel that would be subject to this chapter only because of the transfer of fuel from the fuel supply tanks of the vessel to offshore drilling or production facilities in the oil industry if the vessel is—
(1) not a tanker; and
(2) in the service of oil exploitation.
(c) This chapter does not apply to a fishing or fish tender vessel of not more than 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title when engaged only in the fishing industry.
(d) This chapter does not apply to a fish processing vessel of not more than 5,000 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title. However, the vessel is subject to regulation by the Secretary when carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargo in bulk.
(e) This chapter does not apply to a foreign vessel on innocent passage on the navigable waters of the United States.
(f) This chapter does not apply to an oil spill response vessel if—
(1) the vessel is used only in response-related activities; or
(2) the vessel is—
(A) not more than 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title;
(B) designated in its certificate of inspection as an oil spill response vessel; and
(C) engaged in response-related activities.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 521; Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 402(6), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 446; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 714, title XI, § 1104(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3936, 3966; Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 617(a)(2), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2973.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section
Source section (U.S. Code)
3702
46:391a
Section 3702, with certain exceptions, makes this chapter applicable to any tank vessel operating in the navigable waters of the United States or transferring oil or hazardous materials in any port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and which carries oil or any hazardous materials in bulk as cargo or in residue, regardless of tonnage, size or manner of propulsion; whether it is self-propelled or not; whether it is carrying freight or passengers for hire or not; and whether it is a vessel of the United States or a foreign vessel.
It exempts certain small vessels documented in the service of oil exploitation, certain small tender and fishing vessels used in the Northwest salmon or crab fisheries, certain vessels used in the processing and assembling of fishery products used in the Northwest fisheries, public vessels, and foreign vessels engaged on innocent passage on the navigable waters of the United States. However, processing vessels, while not treated as tank vessels, are still subject to regulation when carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargo in bulk.
heading: Amendments
text: 2010—Subsec. (b)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 111–281 redesignated pars. (2) and (3) as (1) and (2), respectively, and struck out former par. (1), which read as follows: “not more than 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title;”.
1996—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–324, § 714(1), inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “500 gross tons”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–324, § 714(2), inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “500 gross tons”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–324, § 714(3), inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “5,000 gross tons”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–324, § 1104(b), added subsec. (f).
1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–364, § 402(6)(A), substituted “This chapter does not apply to a fishing or fish tender vessel of not more than 500 gross tons when engaged only in the fishing industry” for “This chapter does not apply to a cannery tender, fishing tender, or fishing vessel of not more than 500 gross tons, used in the salmon or crab fisheries of Alaska, Oregon, or Washington, when engaged only in the fishing industry”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–364, § 402(6)(B), substituted “This chapter does not apply to a fish processing vessel of not more than 5,000 gross tons” for “This chapter does not apply to a vessel of not more than 5,000 gross tons used in processing and assembling fishery products of the fisheries of Alaska, Oregon, and Washington”.
heading: Military to Mariner
text: Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3511, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1978, provided that:
“(a) Credentialing Support.—
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this title [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to the applicable services in their respective departments, and in coordination with one another and with the United States Committee on the Marine Transportation System, and in consultation with the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, shall, consistent with applicable law, identify all training and experience within the applicable service that may qualify for merchant mariner credentialing and submit a list of all identified training and experience to the United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center for a determination of whether such training and experience counts for credentialing purposes.
“(b) Review of Applicable Service.—
The United States Coast Guard Commandant shall make a determination of whether training and experience counts for credentialing purposes, as described in subsection (a), not later than 6 months after the date on which the United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center receives a submission under subsection (a) identifying a training or experience and requesting such a determination.
“(c) Fees and Services.—
The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, and the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to the applicable services in their respective departments, shall—
“(1) take all necessary and appropriate actions to provide for the waiver of fees through the National Maritime Center license evaluation, issuance, and examination for members of the uniformed services on active duty, if a waiver is authorized and appropriate, and, if a waiver is not granted, take all necessary and appropriate actions to provide for the payment of fees for members of the uniformed services on active duty by the applicable service to the fullest extent permitted by law;
“(2) direct the applicable services to take all necessary and appropriate actions to provide for Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards for members of the uniformed services on active duty pursuing or possessing a mariner credential, such as implementation of an equal exchange process for members of the uniformed services on active duty at no or minimal cost;
“(3) ensure that members of the applicable services who are to be discharged or released from active duty and who request certification or verification of sea service be provided such certification or verification no later than one month after discharge or release;
“(4) ensure the applicable services have developed, or continue to operate, as appropriate, the online resource known as Credentialing Opportunities On-Line to support separating members of the uniformed services who are seeking information and assistance on merchant mariner credentialing; and
“(5) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section [Dec. 20, 2019], take all necessary and appropriate actions to review and implement service-related medical certifications to merchant mariner credential requirements.
“(d) Advancing Military to Mariner Within the Employer Agencies.—
“(1) In general.—
The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, and the Secretary of Commerce shall have direct hiring authority to employ separated members of the uniformed services with valid merchant mariner licenses or sea service experience in support of United States national maritime needs, including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“(2) Appointments of retired members of the armed forces.—
Except in the case of positions in the Senior Executive Service, the requirements of section 3326(b) of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to the hiring of a separated member of the uniformed services under paragraph (1).
“(e) Separated Member of the Uniformed Services.—
In this section, the term ‘separated member of the uniformed services’ means an individual who—
“(1) is retiring or is retired as a member of the uniformed services;
“(2) is voluntarily separating or voluntarily separated from the uniformed services at the end of enlistment or service obligation; or
“(3) is administratively separating or has administratively separated from the uniformed services with an honorable or general discharge characterization.”