StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

46 U.S.C. § 53901

Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov
In this chapter:
  1. (1)The term “American vessel” includes—
    1. (A)a documented vessel with a registry or coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of this title;
    2. (B)an undocumented vessel owned or chartered by or made available to the United States Government; and
    3. (C)a tug, barge, or other watercraft (whether or not documented) owned by a citizen of the United States and used in essential water transportation or in the fisheries, except only for sport fishing.
  2. (2)The term “cargo” includes a loaded or empty container on a vessel.
  3. (3)The term “transportation in the waterborne commerce of the United States” includes the operation of a vessel in the fisheries, except only for sport fishing.
  4. (4)The term “war risks” includes, to the extent the Secretary of Transportation determines—
    1. (A)any part of a loss excluded from marine insurance coverage under a “free of capture or seizure” clause or analogous clause; and
    2. (B)any other loss from a hostile act, including confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, or deprivation.