46 U.S.C. § 55103
Section 55103 · Transportation of passengers
Amended 1 time on record
Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case 713 F. Supp. 452 - American Hawaii Cruises v. Skinner (1989)
Most recently applied in American Cruise Lines v. United States of America (March 2024)
(a) In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or chapter 121 of this title, a vessel may not transport passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, unless the vessel—
(1) is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in the coastwise trade; and
(2) has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 or is exempt from documentation but would otherwise be eligible for such a certificate and endorsement.
(b) Penalty.—The penalty for violating subsection (a) is $300 for each passenger transported and landed.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 55103 46 App.:289. June 19, 1886, ch. 421, §8, 24 Stat. 81; Feb. 17, 1898, ch. 26, §2, 30 Stat. 248. This section is substituted for the source provision for consistency with section 55102. See 19 C.F.R. §§4.80, 4.80a (2004).
In subsection (b), the penalty amount reflects the adjustment for inflation pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note). See 19 C.F.R. §4.80(b)(2) (2004).