---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 56501"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "56501"
heading: "Definition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/56501"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part E — Control of Merchant Marine Capabilities"
  - "Chapter 565 — Essential Vessels Affected by Neutrality Act"
---

# §56501. Definition


In this chapter, the term “essential [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9)” means a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) that is—

- (1)
  - (A) security for a [mortgage](/usc/46/53701.md?p=8) indebtedness to the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government; or
  - (B) constructed under this subtitle or required by a contract under this subtitle to be operated on a certain essential foreign trade route; and
- (2) necessary in the interests of commerce and national defense to be maintained in condition for prompt use.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1656.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 56501 | 46 App.:1242a(a). | June 29, 1940, ch. 442, subdiv. (a), 54 Stat. 684. |