---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 55121"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "55121"
heading: "Transportation of merchandise and passengers on Canadian vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/55121"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part D — Promotional Programs"
  - "Chapter 551 — Coastwise Trade"
---

# §55121. Transportation of merchandise and passengers on Canadian vessels

- (a) **Between Rochester and Alexandria Bay.—** Until passenger service is established by [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) between the port of Rochester, New York, and the port of Alexandria Bay, New York, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Homeland Security may issue annually permits to Canadian [passenger vessels](/usc/46/2101.md?p=33) to transport passengers between those ports. Canadian [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) holding such a permit are not subject to [section 55103 of this title](/usc/46/55103.md).
- (b) **Within Alaska or Between Alaska and Other Points in the United States.—** Until the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation determines that service by [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) is available to provide the transportation described in paragraph [(1)](#b-1) or [(2)](#b-2), sections [55102](/usc/46/55102.md) and [55103](/usc/46/55103.md) of this title do not apply to the transportation on Canadian [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) of—
  - (1) passengers between ports in southeastern Alaska; or
  - (2) passengers or merchandise between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in southeastern Alaska or in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) outside Alaska.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1641.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 55121(a) | 46 App.:289a. | Apr. 26, 1938, ch. 174, 52 Stat. 223; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§ 101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097. |
| 55121(b) | 46 App.:289b. | Pub. L. 87–77, June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(22), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 155. |

In subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security is substituted for the Commissioner of Customs because the functions of the Customs Service and of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto were transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 403(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–296, 116 Stat. 2178). The functions of the Commissioner of Customs previously were vested in the Secretary of the Treasury under section 321(c) of title 31. For prior related transfers of functions, see the transfer of functions note under 46 App. U.S.C. 289a.