Public vessel means a vessel that—

(a) Is owned, or demise chartered, and operated by the U.S. Government or a government of a foreign country, except a vessel owned or operated by the Department of Transportation or any corporation organized or controlled by the Department (except a vessel operated by the Coast Guard or Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation); and

(b) Is not engaged in commercial service.

[CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51195, Sept. 30, 1997]