No vessel other than a vessel documented for the coastwise trade, or which would be entitled to be so documented except for its tonnage (see §4.80), may tow a vessel other than a vessel in distress between points in the U.S. embraced within the coastwise laws, or for any part of such towing (46 U.S.C. 55111). The penalties for violation of this provision occurring on or before November 2, 2015, are a fine of from $350 to $1,100 against the owner or master of the towing vessel and a further penalty against the towing vessel of $60 per ton of the towed vessel. The penalties for violation of this section occurring after November 2, 2015, are a fine of from $946 to $2,976 against the owner or master of the towing vessel and a further penalty against the towing vessel of $162 per ton of the towed vessel (46 U.S.C. 55111, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015).

[CBP Dec. 17-20, 82 FR 57824, Dec. 8, 2017, as amended at 83 FR 13836, Apr. 2, 2018; 84 FR 13510, Apr. 5, 2019; 85 FR 36480, June 17, 2020]