---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 14303"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "14303"
heading: "Tonnage Certificate"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/14303"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part J — Measurement of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 143 — Convention Measurement"
---

# §14303. Tonnage Certificate

- (a) After measuring a vessel under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall issue, on request of the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), an International Tonnage Certificate (1969) and deliver it to the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) or [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) of the vessel. For a vessel to which the [Convention](/usc/46/14101.md?p=1) does not apply, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall prescribe a certificate to be issued as evidence of a vessel’s measurement under this chapter.
- (b) The certificate issued under this section shall be maintained as required by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, § 5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 111–281, title III, § 303(e)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2925.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14303

Source: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.

Section 14303(a) requires the Secretary to issue, on the request of the owner, an International Tonnage Certificate after measuring a vessel under this chapter. Section 14303(b) requires that the certificate be maintained as required by the Secretary.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–281, § 303(e)(1)(C), struck out “International” before “Tonnage” and “(1969)” after “Certificate” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–281, § 303(e)(1)(A), inserted at end “For a vessel to which the Convention does not apply, the Secretary shall prescribe a certificate to be issued as evidence of a vessel’s measurement under this chapter.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–281, § 303(e)(1)(B), inserted “issued under this section” after “The certificate”.