---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3709"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3709"
heading: "Exemptions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3709"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 37 — Carriage of Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes"
---

# §3709. Exemptions


The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may exempt a vessel from the minimum requirements established by sections 3704–3706 of this title for segregated ballast, [crude oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=6) washing, and dedicated clean ballast if the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) decides that shore-based reception facilities are a preferred method of handling ballast and that adequate facilities are readily available.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 524.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 3709 | 46:391a(7)(N) |

Section 3709 provides the Secretary with the authority to exempt certain minimum tanker requirements of sections 3704, 3705, and 3706 when shorebased reception facilities are a better way of handling ballast and when the facilities are adequate and readily available.