---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3311"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3311"
heading: "Certificate of inspection required"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3311"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 33 — Inspection Generally"
---

# §3311. Certificate of inspection required

- (a) Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), a vessel subject to inspection under this part may not be operated without having on board a certificate of inspection issued under [section 3309 of this title](/usc/46/3309.md).
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may direct the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of a vessel subject to inspection under this chapter and not having on board a certificate of inspection—
  - (1) to have the vessel proceed to mooring and remain there until a certificate of inspection is issued;
  - (2) to take immediate steps necessary for the safety of the vessel, individuals on board the vessel, or the environment; or
  - (3) to have the vessel proceed to a place to make repairs necessary to obtain a certificate of inspection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 515; Pub. L. 98–498, title II, § 211(b), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2304.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 3311 | 46:390c<br>46:395<br>46:399 |

Section 3311 prohibits the operation of a vessel subject to inspection without having on board a valid certificate of inspection.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–498 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (b), a vessel” for “A vessel”, struck out “valid” before “certificate of inspection”, and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.