---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 55334"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "55334"
heading: "Restrictions on operations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/55334"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part D — Promotional Programs"
  - "Chapter 553 — Passenger and Cargo Preferences"
  - "Subchapter III — American Great Lakes Vessels"
---

# §55334. Restrictions on operations

- (a) **Prohibitions.—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), an [American Great Lakes vessel](/usc/46/55331.md?p=1) may not be used to—
  - (1) engage in trade—
    - (A) from a port in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) that is not located on the [Great Lakes](/usc/46/55331.md?p=2); or
    - (B) between ports in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10);
  - (2) transport [bulk cargo](/usc/46/53101.md?p=1) (as defined in [section 40102 of this title](/usc/46/40102.md)) that is subject to section [55305](/usc/46/55305.md) or [55314](/usc/46/55314.md) of this title or [section 2631 of title 10](/usc/10/2631.md); or
  - (3) provide a service (except ocean freight service) as—
    - (A) a contract carrier; or
    - (B) a common carrier on a fixed advertised schedule offering frequent sailings at regular intervals in the foreign trade of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).
- (b) **Off-Season Exception.—** An [American Great Lakes vessel](/usc/46/55331.md?p=1) may be used for not more than 90 days during any 12-month period to engage in trade prohibited by [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A), except during the [Great Lakes shipping season](/usc/46/55331.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1649.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 55334 | 46 App.:1241s. | Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, § 1523, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3666. |