---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 891"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "891"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/891"
units:
  - "Chapter 17 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"
  - "Subchapter III — Noaa Fleet Modernization"
---

# §891. Definitions


In this subchapter, the term—

- (1) “NOAA” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.
- (2) “NOAA fleet” means the fleet of research vessels owned or operated by [NOAA](#1).
- (3) “Plan” means the [NOAA Fleet](#2) Replacement and Modernization Plan described in [section 891b of this title](/usc/33/891b.md).
- (4) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.
- (5) “UNOLS” means University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–567, title VI, § 602, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4299.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

For short title of this subchapter as the “NOAA Fleet Modernization Act”, see section 601 of Pub. L. 102–567, set out as a Short Title of 1992 Amendment note under section 851 of this title.