---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3501"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3501"
heading: "Number of passengers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3501"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 35 — Carriage of Passengers"
---

# §3501. Number of passengers

- (a) Each certificate of inspection issued to a vessel carrying passengers (except a [ferry](/usc/46/2101.md?p=10)) shall include a statement on the number of passengers that the vessel is permitted to carry.
- (b) 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 is liable to a [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) suing them for carrying more passengers than the number of passengers permitted by the certificate of inspection in an amount equal to—
  - (1) passage money; and
  - (2) $100 for each passenger in excess of the number of passengers permitted.
- (c) An [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 that knowingly carries more passengers than the number of passengers permitted by the certificate of inspection also shall be fined not more than $100, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
- (d) The vessel also is liable in rem for a penalty under this section.
- (e) An [offshore supply vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=27) may not carry passengers except in an emergency.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 519; Pub. L. 99–36, § 1(a)(2), May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 67.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 3501 | 46:404–1<br>46:451<br>46:452<br>46:462 |

Section 3501 requires that a vessel carrying passengers, including a passenger vessel as well as a small passenger vessel (except a ferry), shall have on the certificate of inspection a statement as to the number of passengers the vessel is permitted to carry. It also provides penalties for carrying passengers in excess of the number permitted.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–36, § 1(a)(2)(A), struck out the comma after “(except a ferry)”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–36, § 1(a)(2)(B), substituted “carries more passengers than the number of passengers permitted by the certificate of inspection” for “violates subsection (b) of this section”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Chapter 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.