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§ 4302

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ber of activities, but the portion restated in this chapter deals with the establishment of national construction and performance standards for recreational vessels
and their associated equipment, the necessary flexible
regulatory authority for inspection and testing, Federal preemption, certain necessary prohibited acts, enforcement authority, investigation and reporting requirements, procedures for repair and defect notification, and attendant penalties and injunctive relief.
These laws are a direct response to the dramatic increase in the number of recreational boats and the Congressional recognition of the maritime safety problems
that recreational boating has imposed upon our more
than 25 million miles of waterways.

§ 4301. Application
(a) This chapter applies to a recreational vessel and associated equipment carried in the vessel on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States (including the territorial sea of
the United States as described in Presidential
Proclamation No. 5928 of December 27, 1988) and,
for a vessel owned in the United States, on the
high seas.
(b) Except when expressly otherwise provided,
this chapter does not apply to a foreign vessel
temporarily operating on waters subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States.
(c) Until there is a final judicial decision that
they are navigable waters of the United States,
the following waters lying entirely in New
Hampshire are declared not to be waters subject
to the jurisdiction of the United States within
the meaning of this section: Lake Winnisquam,
Lake Winnipesaukee, parts of the Merrimack
River, and their tributary and connecting waters.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 529; Pub. L.
105–383, title III, § 301(b)(4), Nov. 13, 1998, 112
Stat. 3417.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised section

Source section (U.S. Code)

4301 ..............................................

46:1453

Section 4301 provides that this chapter is applicable
to a recreational vessel that operates on waters subject
to the jurisdiction of the United States or that is
owned in the United States and while operating on the
high seas.
It also provides that a foreign recreational vessel
that temporarily uses our waters is not subject to the
requirements of this chapter. However, if the vessel remains permanently in the United States, it would be
subject to the provisions of this chapter.
Section 4301(c) recognizes the ongoing controversy
over the navigability of certain waters of New Hampshire. While a recreational vessel operating on these
waters need not meet the requirements of this chapter,
it would be prohibited from operating on any other waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States if
it does not comply with these requirements.
REFERENCES IN TEXT
Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, referred to in
subsec. (a), is set out under section 1331 of Title 43,
Public Lands.
AMENDMENTS
1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–383 inserted ‘‘(including
the territorial sea of the United States as described in
Presidential Proclamation No. 5928 of December 27,
1988)’’ after ‘‘of the United States’’.

EFFECTIVE DATE
Chapter effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of
Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of
this title.

§ 4302. Regulations
(a) The Secretary may prescribe regulations—
(1) establishing minimum safety standards
for recreational vessels and associated equipment, and establishing procedures and tests
required to measure conformance with those
standards, with each standard—
(A) meeting the need for recreational vessel safety; and
(B) being stated, insofar as practicable, in
terms of performance;
(2) requiring the installation, carrying, or
use of associated equipment (including fuel
systems, ventilation systems, electrical systems, sound-producing devices, firefighting
equipment, lifesaving devices, signaling devices, ground tackle, life- and grab-rails, and
navigational equipment) on recreational vessels and classes of recreational vessels subject
to this chapter, and prohibiting the installation, carrying, or use of associated equipment
that does not conform with safety standards
established under this section; and
(3) requiring or permitting the display of
seals, labels, plates, insignia, or other devices
for certifying or evidencing compliance with
safety regulations and standards of the United
States Government for recreational vessels
and associated equipment.
(b) Each regulation prescribed under this section shall specify an effective date that is not
earlier than 180 days from the date the regulation was published, unless the Secretary finds
that there exists a recreational vessel safety
hazard so critical as to require an earlier effective date. However, this period may not be more
than 24 months for cases involving, in the discretion of the Secretary, major product design,
retooling, or major changes in the manufacturing process.
(c) In prescribing regulations under this section, the Secretary shall, among other things—
(1) consider the need for and the extent to
which the regulations will contribute to recreational vessel safety;
(2) consider relevant available recreational
vessel safety standards, statistics, and data,
including public and private research, development, testing, and evaluation;
(3) not compel substantial alteration of a
recreational vessel or item of associated
equipment that is in existence, or the construction or manufacture of which is begun before the effective date of the regulation, but
subject to that limitation may require compliance or performance, to avoid a substantial
risk of personal injury to the public, that the
Secretary considers appropriate in relation to
the degree of hazard that the compliance will
correct; and
(4) consult with the National Boating Safety
Advisory Council established under section
13110 of this title about the considerations referred to in clauses (1)–(3) of this subsection.
(d) Section 8903 of this title does not apply to
a vessel being operated for bona fide dealer dem-

§ 4303

TITLE 46—SHIPPING

onstrations provided without fee to business invitees. However, if on the basis of substantial
evidence, the Secretary decides under this section that requiring vessels so operated to be
under the control of licensed individuals is necessary for boating safety, then the Secretary
may prescribe regulations requiring the licensing of individuals controlling these vessels in
the same manner as provided in chapter 89 of
this title for individuals in control of vessels
carrying passengers for hire.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 530.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised section
4302 ..............................................

Source section (U.S. Code)
46:1454
46:1455
46:1456
46:1464(g)
46:1488

Section 4302 authorizes the Secretary to prescribe
regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
In lieu of establishing specific statutory safety requirements, subsection (a) provides flexible regulatory authority to establish uniform standards for the design,
construction, materials, and performance of the boats
themselves and all associated equipment. It also provides for the display of seals and other devices for certifying or evidencing compliance with applicable safety
regulations or standards.
Section 4302(b) requires a regulation prescribed under
this section to have an effective date that is not earlier
than 180 days from publication. However, in those instances where a safety hazard may be critical an earlier
effective date is authorized.
Section 4302(c) requires the Secretary to consider certain objectives in developing regulatory controls and
regulations or standards and that there must be an effective consultation process.
Section 4302(d) exempts dealer demonstration boats
from the requirement of having to be named by a licensed individual when demonstrating boats to prospective purchasers or other business invitees when no
fees are charged. The Secretary may require that boats
so used be under control of a licensed individual.
AVAILABILITY AND USE OF EPIRBS FOR RECREATIONAL
VESSELS
Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 309, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat.
3422, provided that: ‘‘The Secretary of Transportation,
through the Coast Guard and in consultation with the
National Transportation Safety Board and recreational
boating organizations, shall, within 24 months of the
date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 13, 1998], assess
and report to Congress on the use of emergency position indicating beacons (EPIRBs) and similar devices
by operators of recreational vessels on the Intracoastal
Waterway and operators of recreational vessels beyond
the Boundary Line. The assessment shall at a minimum—
‘‘(1) evaluate the current availability and use of
EPIRBs and similar devices by the operators of recreational vessels and the actual and potential contribution of such devices to recreational boating safety; and
‘‘(2) provide recommendations on policies and programs to encourage the availability and use of
EPIRBS [sic] and similar devices by the operators of
recreational vessels.’’

§ 4303. Inspection and testing
(a) Subject to regulations, supervision, and reviews that the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may delegate to a person, private or public agency, or organization, or to an officer or

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employee under the supervision of that person
or agency, any work, business, or function related to the testing, inspection, and examination
necessary for compliance enforcement and for
the development of data to enable the Secretary
to prescribe regulations under section 4302 of
this title.
(b) The Secretary may—
(1) conduct research, testing, and development necessary to carry out this chapter, including the procurement by negotiation or
otherwise of experimental and other recreational vessels or associated equipment for
research and testing purposes; and
(2) subsequently sell those vessels.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 531.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised section
4303 ..............................................

Source section (U.S. Code)
46:1457

Section 4303 authorizes the Secretary to delegate to
certain persons or agencies or organizations any work,
business, or function related to the testing, inspection,
and examination necessary for compliance enforcement. The Secretary may also conduct research, testing, and development necessary to carry out this chapter, including procurement of vessels and equipment
and their subsequent sale. The Committee wishes to
make clear that the Secretary may sell anything that
was purchased to test.

§ 4304. Importation of nonconforming vessels and
equipment
The Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury may authorize by joint regulations the importation of any nonconforming recreational
vessel or associated equipment on conditions,
including providing a bond, that will ensure that
the recreational vessel or associated equipment
will be brought into conformity with applicable
safety regulations and standards of the Government before the vessel or equipment is operated
on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 531.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised section
4304 ..............................................

Source section (U.S. Code)
46:1460

Section 4304 requires the regulation and control of
the importation of nonconforming recreational vessels
and associated equipment. This is to assure United
States manufacturers that foreign imports comply with
those regulations and standards in effect for United
States products so that all manufacturers will be on
this same competitive footing. This is being done in
lieu of providing a specific prohibition against the importation of these vessels and equipment that might be
considered an imposition of a non-tariff barrier to
trade.

§ 4305. Exemptions
If the Secretary considers that recreational
vessel safety will not be adversely affected, the
Secretary may issue an exemption from this
chapter or a regulation prescribed under this
chapter.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 531.)