---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3802"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3802"
heading: "Covered vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3802"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Clean Hulls"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3802. Covered vessels

- (a) **Included vessel—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), after the [Convention](/usc/33/3801.md?p=3) enters into force for the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14), the following [vessels](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) are subject to the requirements of this chapter:
  - (1) A [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) documented under [chapter 121](/usc/46/chstII/ptH/ch121.md) of title 46 or one operated under the authority of the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14), wherever located.
  - (2) Any [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) permitted by a Federal agency to operate on the Outer Continental Shelf.
  - (3) Any other [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) when—
    - (A) in the internal waters of the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14);
    - (B) in any port, shipyard, offshore terminal, or other place in the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14);
    - (C) lightering in the [territorial sea](/usc/33/3801.md?p=13); or
    - (D) to the extent consistent with international law, anchoring in the [territorial sea](/usc/33/3801.md?p=13) of the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14).
- (b) **Excluded vessels—**
  - (1) **In general—** The following [vessels](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) are not subject to the requirements of this chapter:
    - (A) Any warship, naval auxiliary, or other [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) owned or operated by a foreign state, and used, for the time being, only on government noncommercial service.
    - (B) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), any warship, naval auxiliary, or other [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) owned or operated by the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14) and used for the time being only on government noncommercial service.
  - (2) **Application to United States government vessels—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/33/3801.md?p=1) may apply any requirement of this chapter to one or more classes of [vessels](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) described in [paragraph (1)(B)](#b-1-B), if the head of the Federal department or agency under which those [vessels](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) operate concurs in that application.
    - (B) **Limitation for combat-related vessel—** [Subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A) shall not apply to combat-related [vessels](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–281, title X, § 1012, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3024.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title X of Pub. L. 111–281, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3023, which enacted this chapter and repealed chapter 37 (§ 2401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of title X to the Code, see Tables.