2020 US Code
Title 46 - Shipping
Subtitle II - Vessels and Seamen
Part C - Load Lines of Vessels
Chapter 51 - Load Lines
Sec. 5103 - Load line requirements

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Citation 46 U.S.C. § 5103 (2020)
Section Name §5103. Load line requirements
Section Text

(a) A vessel may be operated only if the vessel has been assigned load lines.

(b) The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, and individual in charge of a vessel shall mark and maintain the load lines permanently and conspicuously in the way prescribed by the Secretary.

(c) A fishing vessel built on or before July 1, 2013, that undergoes a major conversion completed after the later of July 1, 2013, or the date the Secretary establishes standards for an alternate loadline compliance program, shall comply with such an alternative loadline compliance program that is developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and prescribed by the Secretary.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5101(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1915; Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, §604(d)(2), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2965; Pub. L. 112–213, title III, §305(d)(2), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1565.)

Editorial Notes HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section 5103

Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 86c, 88b.

Section 5103(a) prohibits a vessel that is subject to load line requirements from operating, unless it has load lines assigned by the Secretary.

Section 5103(b) requires that load lines be permanently and conspicuously maintained in the manner prescribed by the Secretary.


EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

2012—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–213 substituted "July 1, 2013," for "July 1, 2012," in two places and substituted "major conversion" for "substantial change to the dimension of or type of the vessel".

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–281 added subsec. (c).

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 2, Title 46 - SHIPPING
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 46 - SHIPPING
Subtitle II - Vessels and Seamen
Part C - Load Lines of Vessels
CHAPTER 51 - LOAD LINES
Sec. 5103 - Load line requirements
Contains section 5103
Date 2020
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 13, 2021
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 100 Stat. 1915
124 Stat. 2965
126 Stat. 1565
Public Law References Public Law 99-509, Public Law 111-281, Public Law 112-213
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