An Act to amend the act of March 2, 1929, and the act of August 27, 1935, relating to loadlines for oceangoing and coastwise vessels, to establish liability for surveys, to increase penalties, to permit deeper loading is coastwise trade, and for other purposes
PL 87-620 (S.3016), enacted 08/31/1962

76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-620-AUG. 31, 1962 
415 
Public Law 87-620 
AN ACT 
To amend the Act of March 2, 1929, and the Act of August 27, 1935, relating to 
load lines for oceangoing and coastwise vessels, to establish liability for 
surveys, to increase penalties, to permit deeper loading in coastwise trade, 
and for other purposes. 
August 31, 1962 
tS.3016] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress asserribled^ That the Act entitled 
"An Act to establish load lines for American vessels, and for other pur-
poses", approved March 2, 1929, as amended (46 U.S.C. 85-85g), is 
amended as follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) of the first section is amended by striking out 
"the Great Lakes excepted" and inserting in lieu thereof "or arriving 
within the jurisdiction of the United States or its possessions from 
a foreign voyage by sea, in both cases the Great Lakes excepted". 
(2) Section 7 (46 U.S.C. 85f) is amended— 
(A) by adding the words "or Coast Guard district commander" 
following the words "collector of customs" in the first sentence; 
(B) by adding the words "or Coast Guard district commander" 
following the word "collector" wherever it appears after the first 
sentence; and 
(C) by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: "The 
owner and agent of a vessel surveyed and found in violation of 
this Act or regulations established thereunder shall bear the costs 
of the survey in addition to any penalty or fine imposed." 
(3) Section 8 (46 U.S.C. 85g) is amended— 
(A) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 
"(a) The owner and/or master of any vessel subject to this Act 
and the regulations established thereunder shall be liable to the United 
States in a penalty not to exceed $1,000 whenever the vessel is found 
operating, navigating, or otherwise in use upon the navigable waters 
of the United States in violation of the provisions of this Act or the 
regulations established thereunder, or whenever the vessel, if a vessel 
of the United States, is found operating, navigating, or otherwise in 
use upon the high seas in violation of the provisions of this Act or 
the regulations established thereunder. 
Each day a vessel is in vio-
lation of the provisions of this Act shall constitute a separate offense. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating may assess, collect, remit, and mitigate any penalty imposed 
under this Act." 
(B) by amending subsection (b) — 
(1) by striking out the figure "$100" and inserting the 
figure "$500" in place thereof; and 
(2) by striking out the last sentence thereof; 
(C) by amending subsection (c) — 
(1) by striking out the figure "$500'^ and inserting the 
following words and figures in place thereof, "$1,000 plus 
a sum computed at the rate of $500 per inch of draft in ex-
cess of the vessel's applicable load line"; and 
(2) by striking out the last sentence thereof; 
(D) by striking out the figure "$500" in subsection (d) and 
inserting the figure "$1,000" in place thereof; 
(E) by striking out the figure "$1,000" in subsection (e) and 
inserting the figure "$2,000" in place thereof. 
Oceangoing and 
coastwise ves-
sels. 
Load lines. 
45 Stat. 1492. 
Liability for 
Penalties. 
S3 Stat. 783. 
416 
PUBLIC LAW 87-620-AUG. 31, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
49 Stat. 888. 
49 Stat. 1543. 
Regulations. 
49 Stat. 889. 
Liability for 
•urveys. 
Penalties. 
SEC. 2. The Act entitled "An Act to provide for the establishment 
of load lines for American vessels in the coastwise trade, and for othec 
purposes", approved August 27,1935, as amended (46 U.S.C. 88-88i), 
is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 2 (46 U.S.C. 88a) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 2. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating is hereby authorized and directed in respect of the vessels 
defined above to establish by regulations from time to time the load 
water lines and marks thereof indicating the maximum depth to which 
such vessels may safely be loaded. Such regulations shall have the 
force of law. In establishing such load lines due consideration shall 
be given to, and differentials made for, the various types and character 
of vessels and the trades in which they are engaged. In establishing 
load water lines on passenger vessels due consideration shall be given 
to, and differentials shall be made for, the age and condition of the 
vessel, its subdivision and efficacy thereof, and the probable stability 
of the vessel if damaged: Provided^ That the load-line provisions of 
this Act shall apply to the Great Lakes: Provided further^ That no 
load line shall be established or marked on any vessel, which load line 
in the judgment of the Secretary is above the actual line of safety." 
(2) Section 7 (46 U.S.C. 88f) is amended— 
(A) by adding the words "or Coast Guard district commander" 
following the words "collector of customs" in the first sentence; 
(B) by adding the words "or Coast Guard district commander" 
following the word "collector" wherever it appears after the first 
sentence; and 
(C) by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: "The 
owner and agent of a vessel surveyed and found in violation of 
this Act or regulations established thereunder shall bear the costs 
of the survey in addition to any penalty or fine imposed." 
(3) Section 8 (46 U.S.C. 88g) is amended— 
(A) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 
"(a) The owner and/or master of any vessel subject to this Act and 
the regulations established thereunder shall be liable to the United 
States in a penalty not to exceed $1,000 whenever the vessel is found 
operating, navigating, or otherwise in use upon the navigable waters 
of the United States, in violation of the provisions of this Act or the 
regulations established thereunder, or whenever the vessel, if a vessel 
of the United States, is found operating, navigating, or otherwise in 
use upon the high seas in violation of the provisions of this Act or the 
regulations established thereunder. 
Each day a vessel is in violation 
of the provisions of this Act shall constitute a separate offense. 
The 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
may assess, collect, remit, and mitigate any penalty imposed under 
this Act." 
(B) by amending subsection (b)— 
(1) by striking out the figure "$100" and inserting the figure 
"$500" in place thereof; and 
(2) by striking out the last sentence thereof; 
(C) by amending subsection (c)— 
(1) by striking out the figure "$500" and inserting the 
following words and figures in place thereof, "$1,000 plus a 
sum computed at the rate of $500 per inch of draft in excess 
of the vessel's applicable load line ; and 
(2) by striking out the last sentence thereof; 
(D) by striking out the figure "$500" in subsection (d) and 
inserting the figure "$1,000" in place thereof; 
(E) by striking out the figure "$1,000" in subsection (e) and 
inserting the figure "$2,000" in place thereof. 
Approved August 31j 1962.