Vessel Documentation Act
PL 96-594 (H.R.1196), enacted 12/24/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3453 
Public Law 96-594 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To revise and improve the laws relating to the documentation of vessels, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Vessel Documentation Act". 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this title— 
(1) "documented vessel" means a vessel for which a certificate 
of documentation has been issued under this title; 
(2) "fisheries" includes the planting, cultivation, catching, 
taking, or harvesting of fish, shellfish, marine animals, pearls, 
shells, or marine vegetation at any place within the fishery 
conservation zone established by section 101 of the Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1811); and 
(8) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating. 
SEC, 103. PORTS OF DOCUMENTATION. 
The Secretary shall designate ports of 
documentation in the United 
States where vessels may be documented and instruments affecting 
title to, or interest in, documented vessels may be recorded. The 
Secretary shall specify the geographic area to be served by each 
designated port, and he may discontinue, relocate, or designate 
additional ports of documentation. 
SEC. 104. VESSELS ELIGIBLE FOR DOCUMENTATION. 
Any vessel of at least five net tons that is not registered under the 
laws of a foreign country is eligible for documentation if it is owned 
b y -
(1) an individual who is a citizen of the United States; 
(2) a partnership or association whose members are all citizens 
of 
the United States; 
(3) a corporation created under the laws of the United States, 
or any State, territory, or possession thereof, or of the District of 
Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; whose president 
or other chief executive officer and chairman of its board of 
directors are citizens of the United States and no more of its 
directors are noncitizens than a minority of the number neces-
sary to constitute a quorum; 
(4) the United States Government; or 
(5) the government of any State, territory, or possession of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico. 
Dec. 24, 1980 
[H.R. 1196] 
Vessel 
documentation 
laws, 
improvement. 
Vessel 
Documentation 
Act. 
46 use 65 note. 
46 use 65. 
46 use 65a. 
46 use 65b. 
94 STAT. 3454 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
46 use 65c. 
SEC. 105. HOME PORTS. 
(a) With the approval of the Secretary and subject to such regula-
tions as he may prescribe, the port of documentation selected by an 
owner for the documentation of his vessel shall be the vessel's home 
port. 
(b) Once a vessel's home port has been fixed as provided in 
subsection (a), it may not be changed without the approval of the 
Secretary, subject to such regulations as he may prescribe. 
46 u s e 65d. 
SEC. 106. NAME OF VESSEL. 
(a) At the time of application for initial documentation of a vessel, 
the owner shall provide a name for the vessel. Subject to the approval 
of the Secretary and upon the issuance of a certificate of documenta-
tion, that name shall become the vessel's name of record. 
(b) Once a vessel's name of record has been fixed as provided in 
subsection (a), it shall not be changed without the approval of the 
Secretary, subject to such regulations as he may prescribe. 
Fee. 
(c) The Secretary may prescribe a reasonable fee for changing a 
documented vessel s name of record. 
46 u s e 65e. 
SEC. 107. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: APPLICATION; ISSUANCE; 
FORM; EXHIBITION. 
(a) Upon application by the owner of any vessel eligible for 
documentation, the Secretary shall issue a certificate of documenta-
tion of a type specified in section 110, 111, 112,113, or 114 of this title. 
(b) The Secretary may prescribe the form of, the manner of filing, 
and the information to be contained in, applications for certificates of 
documentation. 
(c) Each certificate of documentation shall— 
(1) contain the name, the home port, and a description of the 
vessel for which it is issued; 
(2) identify its owner; and 
(3) be in the form and contain any additional information 
prescribed by the Secretary. 
(d) The Secretary shall, by regulation, prescribe procedures to 
insure the integrity of, and the accuracy of information contained in, 
certificates of documentation issued under this title. 
(e) The owner and the master of each documented vessel shall make 
the vessel's certificate of documentation available for examination as 
the law may require or as the Secretary may prescribe. 
46 use 65f. 
SEC. 108. NUMBERS; SIGNAL LETTERS; IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS. 
(a) The Secretary shall maintain a numbering system for the 
identification of documented vessels and shall assign a number to 
each documented vessel. 
(b) The Secretary may maintain a system of signal letters for 
documented vessels. 
(c) The owner of each documented vessel shall affix to the vessel 
and maintain in the manner prescribed by the Secretary the number 
assigned under subsection (a) and any other identification markings 
the Secretary may prescribe. 
46 u s e 65g. 
SEC. 109. PURPOSE OF DOCUMENTATION. 
A certificate of documentation issued under this title is— 
(1) conclusive evidence of nationality for international pur-
poses, but not in any proceeding conducted under the laws of the 
United States; 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3455 
(2) except in the case of a pleasure vessel license, conclusive 
evidence of qualification to be employed in a specified trade; and 
(3) not conclusive evidence of ownership in any proceeding in 
which ownership is in issue. 
SEC. 110. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION; REGISTRY. 
46 USC 65h. 
(a) A registry may be issued for any vessel that is eligible for 
documentation. 
O
b
) A vessel for which a registry is issued may be employed in 
foreign trade or trade with Guam, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, 
or Kingman Reef, 
(c) Upon application of the owner of any vessel that qualifies for a 
coastwise license under section 111 of this title, a Great Lakes license 
under section 112 of this title, or a fishery license under section 113 of 
this title, the Secretary may issue a registry appropriately endorsed 
authorizing the vessel to be employed in the coastwise trade, the 
Great Lakes trade, or the fisheries, as the case may be. 
(d) Except as provided in sections 111, 112, and 113 of this title, a 
foreign built vessel registered pursuant to this section may not 
engage in the coastwise trade, the Great Lakes trade, or the fisheries. 
SEC. 111. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: COASTWISE LICENSE. 
46 USC 65i. 
(a) A coastwise license or, as provided in section 110(c) of this title, 
an appropriately endorsed registry, may be issued for any vessel 
that— 
(1) is eligible for documentation; 
(2) was built in the United States (or in the case of a vessel not 
built in the United States, has been captured in war by citizens of 
the United States and lawfully condemned as prize, has been 
adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United 
States, or has qualified for documentation under section 4136 of 
the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (46 U.S.C. 
14)); and 
(3) otherwise qualifies under laws of the United States to be 
employed in the coastwise trade. 
(b) Only a vessel for which a coastwise license or an appropriately 
endorsed registry is issued may, subject to the laws of the United 
States regulating those trades, be employed in— 
(1) the coastwise trade; and 
(2) the fisheries. 
SEC. 112. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: GREAT LAKES LICENSE. 
46 USC 65j. 
(a) A Great Lakes license, or, as provided in section 110(c) of this 
title, an appropriately endorsed registry, may be issued for any vessel 
that— 
(1) is eligible for documentation; 
(2) was built in the United States (or in the case of a vessel not 
built in the United States, has been captured in war by citizens of 
the United States and lawfully condemned as prize, has been 
adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United 
States, or has qualified for documentation under section 4136 of 
the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (46 U.S.C. 
14)); and 
(3) otherwise qualifies under the laws of the United States to be 
employed in the coastwise trade. 
(b) Only a vessel for which a Great Lakes license or an appropri-
ately endorsed registry is issued may, on the Great Lakes and their 
94 STAT. 3456 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
tributary and connecting waters and subject to the laws of the United 
States regulating those trades, be employed in— 
(1) the coastwise trade; 
(2) trade with Canada; and 
(3) the fisheries. 
46 use 65k. 
SEC. 113. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: FISHERY LICENSE. 
(a) A fishery license, or, as provided in section 110(c) of this title, an 
appropriately endorsed registry, may be issued for any vessel that— 
(1) is eligible for documentation; 
(2) was built in the United States (or in the case of a vessel not 
built in the United States, has been captured in war by citizens of 
the United States and lawfully condemned as prize, has been 
adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United 
States, or has qualified for documentation under section 4136 of 
the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (46 U.S.C. 
14)); and 
(3) otherwise qualifies under the laws of the United States to be 
employed in the fisheries. 
(b) Subject to the laws of the United States regulating the fisheries, 
only a vessel for which a fishery license or an appropriately endorsed 
registry is issued may be employed in that trade. 
46 use 65/. 
SEC. 114. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: PLEASURE VESSEL 
LICENSE. 
(a) A pleasure vessel license may be issued for any vessel that— 
(1) is eligible for documentation, and 
(2) is to be used exclusively for pleasure. 
(b) A licensed pleasure vessel may proceed from or to any port of 
the United States and to any foreign port without entering or 
clearing with the United States Customs Service. 
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary may prescribe 
reasonable fees for issuing, renewing, or replacing a pleasure vessel 
license; or for providing any other service in connection with a 
pleasure vessel license. The fees shall be based on the costs of the 
service provided. 
46 use 65m. 
SEC. 115. VESSEL LIMITED TO TRADE COVERED BY CERTIFICATE OF 
DOCUMENTATION; EXEMPTIONS; PENALTY. 
(a) A vessel may not be employed in any trade other than a trade 
Pleasure vessel, covered by the certificate of documentation issued for that vessel. A 
documented pleasure vessel may not be used for purposes other than 
pleasure. However, any certificate of documentation may, under 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, be exchanged for any other 
type of certificate of documentation, or appropriately endorsed for 
any trade, for which the vessel qualifies. 
(b) A non-self-propelled vessel which is qualified to be employed in 
the coastwise trade may, without being documented, be employed in 
that trade within a harbor or on the rivers or inland lakes of the 
United States, or on the internal waters or canals of any State. 
(c) Whenever a vessel is employed in a trade that is not covered by 
the certificate of documentation issued for that vessel or a docu-
mented pleasure vessel is used other than for pleasure, the vessel, 
together with its equipment, is liable to seizure by and forfeiture to 
the United States. 
(d) A documented vessel may not be placed under the command of a 
person other than a citizen of the United States. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3457 
SEC. 116. FALSIFICATION IN DOCUMENTATION: FRAUDULENT USE OF 46 USC 65n. 
DOCUMENT; PENALTY. 
(a) Whenever the owner of a vessel knowingly falsifies or conceals a 
material fact, or makes a false statement or representation in 
connection with the documentation of his vessel under this title, in 
addition to any other penalty provided by law, that vessel, together 
with its equipment, is liable to seizure by and forfeiture to the United 
States. 
(b) Whenever a certificate of documentation is knowingly and 
fraudulently used for any vessel, that vessel, together with its 
equipment, is liable to seizure by and forfeiture to the United States. 
SEC. 
117. 
CERTIFICATE 
OF 
DOCUMENTATION: 
TERMINATION 
OF 
46 USC 65o. 
VALIDITY. 
(a) A certificate of documentation is invalid if the vessel for which it 
is issued— 
(1) no longer meets the requirements of this Act and the 
regulations prescribed thereunder pertaining to that certificate 
of documentation; or 
(2) is placed under the command of a person who is not a citizen 
of the United States. 
(b) Except as provided by subsection (o) of section 30 of the Act of 
June 5, 1920, as amended (46 U.S.C. 961(a)), an invalid certificate of 
documentation shall be surrendered in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary. 
SEC. 118. VESSELS PROCURED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 
46 USC 65p. 
(a) The Secretary and the Secretary of State, acting jointly, may 
provide for the issuance of an appropriate document for any vessel 
procured outside the United States that meets the ownership require-
ments of section 104 of this title. 
(b) Subject to any limitations the Secretary may prescribe, a vessel 
for which an appropriate document is issued under this section may 
proceed to the United States and engage en route in the foreign trade 
or trade with Guam, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, or Kingman 
Reef. Upon the vessel's arrival in the United States the document 
shall be surrendered in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
(c) A vessel for which a document is issued under this section is 
subject to the jurisdiction and laws of the United States. However, the Suspension. 
Secretary may suspend for a period not to exceed six months the 
application of any vessel inspection law administered by him, or any 
regulation issued thereunder, if he considers the suspension to be in 
the public interest. 
SEC. 119. RECORDING OF UNITED STATES BUILT VESSELS. 
46 USC 65q. 
The Secretary may provide for the recording and certifying of any 
information pertaining to vessels built in the United States that he 
considers to be in the public interest. 
SEC. 120. REGISTRATION OF FUNNEL MARKS AND HOUSE FLAGS. 
46 USC 65r. 
The Secretary shall provide for the registration of funnel marks 
and house flags by owners of vessels. 
SEC. 121. LIST OF DOCUMENTED VESSELS. 
46 USC 65s. 
The Secretary shall publish periodically a list of all documented 
vessels together with any information pertaining to them that he 
considers pertinent or useful. 
94 STAT. 3458 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
46 use 65t. 
SEC. 122. REPORTS. 
To insure compliance with this title and the laws governing the 
qualifications of vessels to engage in the coastwise trade and the 
fisheries, the Secretary may require owners and masters of docu-
mented vessels to submit reports in any reasonable form and manner 
he may prescribe. 
46 use 65u. 
SEC. 123. VIOLATIONS; PENALTY. 
(a) Any person who is found by the Secretary, after notice and an 
opportunity for a hearing, to have violated this title or a regulation 
issued hereunder shall be liable to the United States for a civil 
penalty, not to exceed $500 for each violation. Each day of a 
continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation. The 
amount of the penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary, or his 
designee, by written notice. In determining the amount of the 
penalty, the Secretary shall take into account the nature, circum-
stances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts committed and, 
with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of 
prior offenses, ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may 
require. 
(b) The Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit, with or 
without conditions, any civil penalty under this section. 
(c) If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it 
has become final, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney 
General for collection in any appropriate district court of the United 
States. 
46 u s e 65v. 
SEC. 124. DELEGATIONS AND REGULATIONS. 
The Secretary may— 
(1) delegate, and authorize successive redelegations of, any of 
the duties or powers conferred on him by this title; and 
(2) prescribe regulations to carry out this title. 
Definitions. 
SEC. 125. RELATED TERMS IN OTHER LAWS. 
^" 
With respect to the documentation of a vessel whenever used in 
any law, regulation, document ruling, or other official act— 
(1) "certificate of registry", "registry", and "register" mean a 
registry as provided for in section 110 of 
this title; 
(2) "license", "enrollment and license", "license for the coast-
wise (or coasting) trade", and "enrollment and license for the 
coastwise (or coasting) trade" mean a coastwise license as pro-
vided for in section 111 of 
this title; 
(3) "enrollment and license to engage in the foreign and 
coastwise (or coasting) trade on the northern, northeastern, and 
northwestern frontiers, otherwise than by sea" means a Great 
Lakes license as provided for in section 112 of this title; 
(4) "license for the fisheries" and "enrollment and license for 
the fisheries" mean a fishery license as provided for in section 
113 of this title; and 
(5) "yacht" means a pleasure vessel whether or not 
documented. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3459 
SEC. 126. AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS. 
(a) Section 4131 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as Officers, 
amended (46 U.S.C. 221), is further amended to read as follows: "Only 
a citizen of the United States may serve as master, chief engineer, or 
officer in charge of a deck watch or engineering watch on any vessel 
documented under the laws of the United States. However, if a 
documented vessel is deprived of the services of any officer, other 
than the master, while on a foreign voyage and a vacancy is thereby 
created, until the vessel's first return to a United States port where a 
United States citizen replacement can be obtained, a person who is 
not a citizen of the United States may serve in— 
"(1) the vacancy; or 
"(2) any vacancy resulting from the promotion of another to fill 
the original vacancy.". 
(b) Section 4311 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as 
amended (46 U.S.C. 251), is further amended by striking the first and 
third sentences of subsection (a). 
(c) Section 4320 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as 
amended (46 U.S.C. 262), is further amended by— 
(1) striking the word "licensed" in the first sentence and 
inserting in lieu thereof the word "documented"; and 
(2) striking the last sentence. 
(d) Section 4377 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as 
amended (46 U.S.C. 325), is further amended by striking the second 
(e) Section 7 of the Act of June 19,1886, as amended (46 U.S.C. 319), 
is further amended by— 
(1) striking the first sentence and inserting in lieu thereof the 
following: 
"Whenever a vessel, entitled to be documented and not so docu-
mented, is employed in a trade for which certificates of documenta-
tion are issued under the vessel documentation laws, other than a 
trade covered by a registry, the vessel is liable to a civil penalty of 
$500 for each port at which it arrives without the proper certificate of 
documentation, and if it has on board any merchandise of foreign 
growth or manufacture (sea stores excepted), or any taxable domestic 
spirits, wines, or other alcoholic liquors, on which the duties or taxes 
have not been paid or secured to be paid, the vessel, together with its 
equipment and cargo, is liable to seizure and forfeiture."; and 
(2) striking the last sentence. 
SEC. 127. REPEALS. 
The following laws are repealed, except with respect to rights and 
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings 
that were begun before the effective date of this title: 
Trading without 
license, penalty. 
46 use 65 note. 
94 STAT. 3460 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
Revised statutes section 
Revised statutes section 
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Date 
Chapter 
Section 
Statutes at large 
Vol-
ume 
Page 
1874 
Apr. 17 
1877 
Feb. 27 
1879 
June 30 
1884 
June 26 
July 5 
1886 
June 19 
1891 
Feb. 21 
1895 
Jan.16 
1897 
Jan.20 
1902 
June 24 
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Mar. 3 
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Feb. 29 
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Do 
106. 
69... 
54. 
121. 
221. 
421..., 
250..., 
24 
67 
1155., 
1457.. 
1865., 
212..., 
47..., 
220., 
390., 
1 (only the part 
amending R.S. 4315, 
4318, and 4319). 
21. 
4... 
6 
1 
2, 4, 5. 
1,2 
1,2 
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1,2 
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5 (only 
the 
part 
amending R.S. 
4132). 
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184., 
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PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3461 
Statutes at large 
Date 
Chapter 
Vol-
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Page 
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83.; 
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Public Law 85-237 
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Public Law 85-157 
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Public Law 85-219 
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SEC. 128. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This title shall be effective on the first day of the eighteenth month 
following the month in which enacted. 
TITLE II 
46 u s e 65 note. 
Tonnage 
Measurement 
Simplification 
Act 
46 u s e 71 note. 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the "Tonnage 
Measurement Simplification Act". 
SEC. 202. MEASUREMENT.—Section 4148 of the Revised Statutes of 
the United States, as amended (46 U.S.C. 71) is further amended to 
read as follows: 
"SEC. 4148. (a) Before a vessel is documented or recorded under the 
laws of the United States, or where the application of a law of the 
United States to a vessel is determined by its tonnage, the vessel shall 
be measured by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating. The Secretary may, by regulation, provide for the 
temporary documentation of a vessel prior to the measurement 
required by this section. 
"(b) A vessel required to be measured under subsection (a) of this 
section, other than a vessel used exclusively for pleasure, shall be 
measured as prescribed in sections 4151 and 4153 of the Revised 
Statutes of the United States, as amended, and to the extent applic- 46 use 75,77 
able, as prescribed in Public Law 89-219, September 29, 1965 (79 
Stat. 891; 46 U.S.C. 83-83k) if— 
"(1) it engages or intends to engage in an international voyage 
by sea; or 
"(2) it is at least twenty-four meters in length and is self-
propelled. 
"(c) A vessel not required to be measured under subsection (b) of 
this section may be so measured if requested by its owner. A vessel 
not measured under subsection (b) shall be assigned gross and net 
tonnages by the Secretary which are functions of its length, breadth, 
depth, and other dimensions, including appropriate coefficients. The 
Secretary shall prescribe the manner in which dimensions are 
Vessels, 
nonmeasure-
ment. 
-0-194 
O—81—pt. 3 
52 : QL3 
94 STAT. 3462 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
Regulations. 
46 u s e 71 note. 
46 u s e 75, 77. 
Ante, p. 3461. 
46 u s e 71 note. 
46 u s e 369. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Transfer of 
vessel to 
museum. 
46 u s e 1151, 50 
u s e app. 1744. 
measured and which coefficients are appropriate. The resulting gross 
tonnages, taken as a group, shall reasonably reflect the relative 
internal volumes of the vessels measured, and the resulting net 
tonnages shall be in approximately the same ratios to corresponding 
gross tonnages as are the net and gross tonnages of comparable 
vessels measured under subsection (b) of this section. In accordance 
with regulations issued under this subsection, the Secretary may 
determine the gross and net tonnages of a vessel which is representa-
tive of a designated class, model, or type and may assign those gross 
and net tonnages to other vessels of the same class, model, or type. 
"(d) A vessel shall be remeasured if— 
"(1) the vessel is altered or the use of its space is changed so 
that its gross or net tonnage is affected; 
"(2) having been measured under subsection (c) of this section, 
the vessel becomes, by use or alteration, subject to subsection O
t
>
) 
ofthis section; or 
"(3) having been measured under subsection (b) of this section 
and not required to be so measured, the owner requests that the 
vessel be measured under subsection (c) ofthis section. 
Except as provided in this subsection, a vessel that has been meas-
ured is not required to be remeasured to obtain another document. 
"(e) The Secretary shall make such regulations as may be necessary 
to carry out the provisions of sections 4148,4149,4150,4151, and 4153 
of the Revised Statutes, as amended (46 U.S.C. 71, 72, 74, 75, 77).". 
SEC. 203. APPUCATION.—A vessel measured prior to the effective 
date ofthis title under sections 4151 and 4153 of the Revised Statutes 
of the United States, as amended, is considered as having been 
measured under section 4148(b) of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States, as amended by this Act. 
SEC. 204. EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of this title shall take 
effect on the first day of the twelfth month following the month in 
which enacted. 
TITLE III 
SEC. 301. The penultimate sentence of section 5(b) of the Act of May 
27, 1936 (49 U.S.C. 369(b)), as amended, is amended by striking 
"November 1,1983," and substituting "November 1,1988,". 
SEC. 302. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation $500,000 for fiscal year 1981 to conduct a study of the 
feasibility of constructing a new two track railroad drawbridge across 
Coos Bay, Oregon, which would replace the existing Southern Pacific 
Railroad drawbridge located at mile 9.0 and would have a clear 
navigational opening of 400 feet or such lesser clearance as the 
Secretary may determine to be reasonable. Such study shall include 
an analysis of any modifications to the Coos Bay City Airport 
that would be required to permit construction of a new railroad 
drawbridge. 
SEC. 303. Notwithstanding the provisions of title V, Merchant 
Marine Act of 1936 and section 11, Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, 
the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to transfer, without 
reimbursement, the title and ownership of V4-M-A1 ocean tug 
Scotch Cap to the Superior-Douglas County Museum in Superior, 
Wisconsin, for use as a maritime museum. The vessel shall be 
delivered to the museum at the place where the vessel is located on 
the effective date of this Act, in its present condition, without cost to 
the United States. While the vessel is owned by the Superior-Douglas 
County Museum it shall be used solely as a maritime museum, and 
such vessel shall not be used for operation or transportation purposes 
PUBLIC LAW 96-594—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3463 
of any nature whatsoever. In the event that the United States should 
have need for the vessel, the Superior-Douglas County Museum, on 
request of the Secretary of Commerce shall make the vessel available 
to the United States without cost. In the event the Superior-Douglas 
County Museum no longer requires the vessel for the purposes of this 
Act, such vessel shall be conveyed back to the United States in as 
good condition as when received, except for ordinary wear and tear, 
to be delivered by the Superior-Douglas County Museum to the point 
of original delivery without any cost to the United States. 
Approved December 24, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-428 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 125 (1979): Sept. 17, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 126 (1980): Dec. 9, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Dec. 10, House concurred in Senate amendment.