---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 850.5"
title: "49"
number: "850.5"
heading: "Definitions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/850.5"
---

# §850.5. Definitions.


As used in this part:

- (a) Act means Title III of Pub. L. 93-633, the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 ([49 U.S.C. 1901](/usc/49/1901.md), et seq.).
- (b) Board means the National Transportation Safety Board.
- (c) Chairman means the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.
- (d) Commandant means the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
- (e) Major marine casualty means a casualty involving a vessel, other than a public vessel, that results in—
  - (1) The loss of six or more lives;
  - (2) The loss of a mechanically propelled vessel of 100 or more gross tons;
  - (3) Property damage initially estimated as $500,000 or more; or
  - (4) Serious threat, as determined by the Commandant and concurred in by the Chairman, to life, property, or the environment by hazardous materials.
- (f) Public vessel means a vessel owned by the United States, except a vessel to which the Act of October 25, 1919, c. 82 (41 Stat. 305, [46 U.S.C. 363](/usc/46/363.md)) applies.
- (g) Vessel of the United States means a vessel—
  - (1) Documented, or required to be documented, under the laws of the United States;
  - (2) Owned in the United States; or
  - (3) **Owned by a citizen or resident of the United States and not registered under a foreign flag.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Sec. 304(a)(1)(E), Independent Safety Board Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-633, 88 Stat. 2168 (49 U.S.C. 1903).

### Source

Source: 42 FR 61204, Dec. 1, 1977, unless otherwise noted.