Us Code § 55605 - Definitions
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 55605 — Definitions, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 55605. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) The term "marine highway transportation" means the carriage by a documented vessel of cargo (including such carriage of cargo and passengers), if such cargo—
(A) is—
(i) contained in intermodal cargo containers and loaded by crane on the vessel;
(ii) loaded on the vessel by means of wheeled technology, including roll-on roll-off cargo;
(iii) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation;
(iv) bulk, liquid, or loose cargo loaded in tanks, holds, hoppers, or on deck; or
(v) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats; and
(B) is—
(i) loaded at a port in the United States and unloaded either at another port in the United States or at a port in Canada or Mexico; or
(ii) loaded at a port in Canada or Mexico and unloaded at a port in the United States.
(2) The term "Tribal government" means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently, as of the date of enactment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
(3) The term "Alaska Native Corporation" has the meaning given the term "Native Corporation" under section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
(Added Pub. L. 110–140, title XI, §1121(a), Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1761; amended Pub. L. 112–213, title IV, §405(b), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1571; Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXV, §3508, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1223; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII [LXXXIII], §8332(d)(6), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4705; Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXV, §3521(d)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3079.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of enactment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, referred to in par. (2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 117–263, which was approved Dec. 23, 2022.
Amendments
2022—Pub. L. 117–263 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined the term "marine highway transportation" as used in this chapter.
2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted "Marine highway" for "Short sea" in section catchline and "marine highway transportation" for "short sea transportation" in introductory provisions.
2015—Par. (1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 114–92 added subpars. (C) and (D).
2012—Pub. L. 112–213, which directed amendment of section 55605, without specifying the title to be amended, by substituting "by a documented vessel" for "by vessel" in the matter preceding par. (1), was executed to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.
Part E—Control of Merchant Marine Capabilities
CHAPTER 561—RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS
About This Section
46 U.S.C. § 55605 is part of Title 46 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 46 U.S.C. § 55605. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.