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PUBLIC LAW 93-115-OCT. 1, 1973
[87 STAT.
Public Law 93-115 October 1, 1973
^^' ^^^'
AN
ACT
To require leadlines on United States vessels engaged in foreign voyages and foreign vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the International United Stotes of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may Act^ori973.'* ^"^ b© cited as the "International Voyage Load Line Act of 1973". SEC. 2. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (hereinafter referred to as "Secretary") shall enforce the provisions of this Act and prescribe regulations to carry out its provisions. With the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary may utilize officers of the Bureau of Customs to enforce this Act and the regulations established hereunder. DEFINITIONS
SEC. 3. As used in this Act— (1) "new ship" means a vessel the keel of which is laid (or which is at a similar stage of construction) on or after July 21, 1968; and (2) "existing ship" means a vessel which is not a "new ship". APPLICABILITY
18 usT 1857.
SEC. 4. (a) This Act applies to vessels which— (1) arrive at any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States from foreign ports; (2) make voyages between foreign ports (except foreign vessels engaged in such voyages); or (3) depart from any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States for a foreign port. (b) This Act does not apply to— ' (1) ships of war; (2) pleasure craft not used in trade or commerce; (3) fishing vessels; (4) existing ships of less than one hundred and fifty gross tons; (5) new ships of less than seventy-nine feet in length; (6) vessels which navigate exclusively on the Great Lakes; or (7) ve^els operating on sheltered waters between ports of the United States and neighboring countries as provided in any treaty of the United States. (c) A vessel which voluntarily obtains loadlines shall be treated as a vessel subject to this Act until its loadline certificate is surrendered and its loadline marks removed. (d) This Act does not abrogate any provisions of treaties or conventions in effect, which are not in conflict with the International Convention on Loadlines, 1966, and to which the United States has acceded. PETERMINATION OF LOADLINES; ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE; PROHIBITION
S E C 5. (a) The Secretary shall prescribe loadlines, the marking thereof, and associated condition surveys for vessels subject to this Act to indicate the minimum freeboard to which each may be safely loaded, giving due consideration to, and making differentials for the service, type, and character of each vessel, and in conformance with applicable international treaties or conventions to which the United States has acceded.
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