---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12306"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12306"
heading: "Safety certificates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12306"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 123 — Numbering Undocumented Vessels"
---

# §12306. Safety certificates


When a State is the authority issuing a number under this chapter, it may require that the individual in charge of a numbered vessel have a valid safety certificate issued under conditions set by the issuing authority, except when the vessel is subject to manning requirements under part F of this subtitle.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 12306 | 46:1471 |

Section 12306 authorizes a State that is an issuing authority to require a numbered vessel operator to hold a valid safety certificate, unless the vessel is subject to manning requirements under part F of this subtitle.