---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 50113"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "50113"
heading: "Use and performance reports by operators of vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/50113"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part A — General"
  - "Chapter 501 — Policy, Studies, and Reports"
---

# §50113. Use and performance reports by operators of vessels

- (a) **Filing Requirement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation by regulation may require the operator of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the waterborne [foreign commerce](/usc/46/53101.md?p=4) of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) to file such report, account, record, or memorandum on the use and performance of the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) as the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) considers desirable to assist in carrying out this subtitle. The report, account, record, or memorandum shall be signed and verified, and be filed at the times and in the manner, as provided by regulation.
- (b) **Civil Penalty.—** An operator not filing a report, account, record, or memorandum required by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) under this section is liable to the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of $50 for each day of the violation. A penalty imposed under this section on the operator of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) constitutes a lien on the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) involved in the violation. A civil action in rem to enforce the lien may be brought in the district court of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) for any district in which the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) is found. The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) may remit or mitigate any penalty imposed under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1562.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 50113 | 46 App.:1122a. | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 212(A), as added June 25, 1956, ch. 437, 70 Stat. 332; Aug. 6, 1981, Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(70), 95 Stat. 159. |