---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 5109"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "5109"
heading: "Reciprocity for foreign vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/5109"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part C — Load Lines of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 51 — Load Lines"
---

# §5109. Reciprocity for foreign vessels

- (a) When the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) finds that the laws and regulations of a foreign country related to load lines are similar to those of this chapter and the regulations prescribed under this chapter, or when a foreign country is a party to an international load line agreement to which the United States Government is a party, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall accept the load line marks and certificate of a vessel of that foreign country as complying with this chapter and the regulations prescribed under this chapter. The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may control the vessel as provided for in the applicable international agreement.
- (b) [Subsection (a)](#a) of this section does not apply to a vessel of a foreign country that does not recognize load lines assigned under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–509, title V, § 5101(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1917.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 5109

Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 86f, 88d.

Section 5109(a) requires the Secretary to accept the load line mark and load line certificate of a vessel of a foreign country if the Secretary finds that the load line laws and regulations of that country are similar to those of this chapter, or if that country is a party to an international load line agreement to which the United States is a party.