---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 55113"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "55113"
heading: "Use of foreign documented oil spill response vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/55113"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part D — Promotional Programs"
  - "Chapter 551 — Coastwise Trade"
---

# §55113. Use of foreign documented oil spill response vessels


Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an [oil spill response vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=29) documented under the laws of a foreign country may operate in waters of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) on an emergency and temporary basis, for the purpose of recovering, transporting, and unloading in a [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) port [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28) discharged as a result of an [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28) spill in or near those waters, if—

- (1) an adequate number and type of [oil spill response vessels](/usc/46/2101.md?p=29) documented under the laws of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) cannot be engaged to recover [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28) from an [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28) spill in or near those waters in a timely manner, as determined by the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for a discharge or threat of a discharge of [oil](/usc/46/2101.md?p=28); and
- (2) the foreign country has by its laws accorded to [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) the same privileges accorded to [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) of the foreign country under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1638.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 55113 | 46:12101 note. | Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, § 1117, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3973. |