---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 116"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "116"
heading: "Vessel of the United States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/116"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — General"
  - "Chapter 1 — Definitions"
---

# §116. Vessel of the United States


In this title, the term “vessel of the United States” means a vessel documented under [chapter 121](/usc/46/chstII/ptH/ch121.md) of this title (or exempt from documentation under [section 12102(c) of this title](/usc/46/12102.md?p=c)), numbered under [chapter 123](/usc/46/chstII/ptH/ch123.md) of this title, or titled under the law of a State.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 4, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1488.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 116 | 46:2101(46). |  |