---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 4101"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "4101"
heading: "Application"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/4101"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 41 — Uninspected Vessels Generally"
---

# §4101. Application


This chapter applies to an [uninspected vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=56) not subject to [chapter 45](/usc/46/chstII/ptB/ch45.md) of this title—

- (1) on the [navigable waters of the United States](/usc/46/2101.md?p=25); or
- (2) owned in the United States and operating on the high seas.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 528; Pub. L. 100–424, § 8(b), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1593.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 4101 | 46:526u |

Section 4101 makes this chapter applicable to uninspected vessels, as defined in section 2101(43), that operate on the navigable waters of the United States or that are owned in the United States and while operating on the high seas. Therefore a vessel that operates on waters that are considered to be solely State waters would not be subject to these Federal requirements.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–424 inserted “not subject to chapter 45 of this title” after “an uninspected vessel”.

### 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.