The following definitions apply to this subpart:

Drill ship MODU means a mobile offshore drilling unit with a ship shape displacement hull intended for operation in the floating condition.

Ferry means a vessel that is used on a regular schedule—

(1) To provide transportation only between places that are not more than 300 miles apart; and

(2) To transport only—

(i) Passengers; or

(ii) Vehicles, or railroad cars, that are being used, or have been used, in transporting passengers or goods.

Freight barge means a non-self-propelled vessel carrying freight for hire.

Freight ship means a self-propelled freight vessel.

Freight vessel means a motor vessel of more than 15 gross tons that carries freight for hire, except an oceanographic research vessel or an offshore supply vessel.

Industrial vessel means a vessel which, by reason of its special outfit, purpose, design, or function engages in certain industrial ventures. For the purposes of this subpart, this classification includes such vessels as dredges, cable layers, derrick barges, and construction and wrecking barges, but does not include vessels which carry passengers or freight for hire, OSVs, oceanographic research vessels, or vessels engaged in the fisheries.

Liquefied gas tankship means a self-propelled vessel equipped with cargo tanks primarily designed to carry liquefied or compressed gases in bulk.

Mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) means a vessel capable of engaging in drilling operations for the exploration or exploitation of subsea resources that is: seagoing and 300 or more gross tons and self-propelled by machinery; Seagoing and 100 or more gross tons and non-self-propelled; or more than 65 feet in length and propelled by steam.

Nautical school vessel means a vessel operated by or in connection with a nautical school or an educational institution under section 13 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1986, Public Law 99-640.

Non-profit organization means an organization under Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) section 501(c) which is exempt for the purposes of federal income taxation.

Oceanographic research vessel means a vessel that is being employed only in instruction in oceanography or limnology, or both, or only in oceanographic or limnological research, including those studies about the sea such as seismic, gravity meter, and magnetic exploration and other marine geophysical or geological surveys, atmospheric research, and biological research.

Offshore supply vessel or OSV means a vessel that—

(1) Is propelled by machinery other than steam;

(2) Does not meet the definition of a passenger-carrying vessel in 46 U.S.C. 2101(22) or 46 U.S.C. 2101(35);

(3) Is more than 15 gross tons; and

(4) Regularly carries goods, supplies, individuals in addition to the crew, or equipment in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources.

Passenger barge means a non-self-propelled passenger vessel, including a prison barge or a barge which carries occupied recreational vehicles.

Passenger ship means a self-propelled passenger vessel.

Passenger vessel means a vessel of at least 100 gross tons:

(1) Carrying more than 12 passengers, including at least one passenger for hire;

(2) That is chartered and carrying more than 12 passengers;

(3) That is a submersible vessel carrying at least one passenger for hire; or

(4) That is a ferry carrying a passenger.

Political subdivision means a county, district, parish, township, city or similar governmental entity established within a State.

Publicly owned means, owned by (1) the federal government, or (2) the government of any State or political subdivision thereunder.

Sailing school vessel means a vessel of less than 500 gross tons, carrying more than 6 individuals who are sailing school instructors or sailing school students, principally equipped for propulsion by sail even if the vessel has an auxiliary means of propulsion, and owned or demise chartered and operated by a qualified organization during such times as the vessel is operated exclusively for the purposes of sailing instruction.

Sea-going towing vessel means a sea-going commercial vessel engaged in or intending to engage in the service of pulling, pushing or hauling alongside, or any combination of pulling, pushing or hauling alongside, that has been issued a Certificate of Inspection under the provisions of subchapter I of this chapter.

Self-elevating MODU means a mobile offshore drilling unit with movable legs capable of raising its hull above the surface of the sea.

Semi-submersible MODU means a mobile offshore drilling unit with the main deck connected to an underwater hull by columns or caissons, that is intended for drilling operations in the floating condition.

Small passenger vessel means a vessel of less than 100 gross tons:

(1) Carrying more than 6 passengers, including at least 1 passenger for hire;

(2) That is chartered with the crew provided or specified by the owner or the owner's representative and carrying more than 6 passengers;

(3) That is chartered with no crew provided or specified by the owner or the owner's representative and carrying more than 12 passengers;

(4) That is a submersible vessel carrying at least one passenger for hire; or

(5) That is a ferry carrying more than 6 passengers.

State means a State of the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Submersible MODU means a mobile offshore drilling unit intended for drilling operations in the bottom-bearing condition, having the main deck connected to an underwater hull or pontoons by way of columns or caissons.

Submersible vessel means a vessel that is capable of operating below the surface of the water.

Tank barge means any tank vessel not equipped with means of propulsion.

Tank vessel means a vessel that is constructed or adapted to carry, or that carries, oil or hazardous material in bulk as cargo or cargo residue.

Tankship means any tank vessel propelled by power or sail, including an integrated tug and barge designed to operate together only in the pushing mode.

User fee anniversary date means the date on which a vessel's annual inspection fee is due each year. Once established by the Coast Guard, a vessel's user fee anniversary date remains fixed for as long as the vessel remains in service.

Vessel identification number (VIN) means a U.S. official number, a number assigned by a State, a number assigned by the Coast Guard, or a Lloyd's Register of Shipping identification number issued to a U.S. or foreign commercial vessel for purposes of vessel identification. For U.S. vessels, VIN means the number listed on the Certificate of Inspection. For foreign vessels, VIN means either the Lloyd's Register of Shipping identification number or the number assigned by the Coast Guard.

Youth means an individual 21 years of age or younger.

[CGD 91-030, 60 FR 13563, Mar. 13, 1995, as amended by CGD 96-067, 62 FR 19232, Apr. 21, 1997; CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51041, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 96-067, 63 FR 59474, Nov. 4, 1998; USCG 2008-1107; 74 FR 63628, Dec. 4, 2009; USCG-2012-0208, 79 FR 48924, Aug. 18, 2014; USCG-2006-24412, 81 FR 40100, June 20, 2016]