---
kind: "section"
citation: "1 U.S.C. § 3"
title: "1"
title_heading: "General Provisions"
number: "3"
heading: "“Vessel” as including all means of water transportation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/1/3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Rules of Construction"
---

# §3. “Vessel” as including all means of water transportation


The word “vessel” includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.


## Source credit

(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.)