---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 8901"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "8901"
heading: "Freight vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/8901"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part F — Manning of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 89 — Small Vessel Manning"
---

# §8901. Freight vessels


A [freight vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=15) of less than 100 gross tons as measured under [section 14502 of this title](/usc/46/14502.md), or an alternate tonnage measured under [section 14302 of this title](/usc/46/14302.md) as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 14104 of this title](/usc/46/14104.md) shall be operated by an individual licensed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) to operate that type of vessel in the particular geographic area, under prescribed regulations.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 733, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3941.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 8901 | 46:390b |

Section 8901 requires that a freight vessel of less than 100 gross tons be operated by a licensed individual for that type vessel and for a particular geographic area.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”.