§1604. Vessels not subject to International Regulations

(a) The International Regulations do not apply to vessels while in the waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States.

(b) Whenever a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States is in the territorial waters of a foreign state the International Regulations shall be applicable to, and shall be complied with by, that vessel to the extent that the laws and regulations of the foreign state are not in conflict therewith.

( Pub. L. 95–75, §5, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 309 ; Pub. L. 96–591, §6(1), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3434 .)

Amendments

1980-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–591 substituted provision providing that the International Regulations do not apply to vessels while in the waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States for provisions that had made specific reference to harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, as defined in section 154 of this title, to the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters, as defined in section 241 of this title, and to the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries, as defined in section 301 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–591 effective 12 months after Dec. 24, 1981, see section 7 of Pub. L. 96–591, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2001 of this title.