§12139. Reports

(a) In General.-To ensure compliance with this chapter and laws governing the qualifications of vessels to engage in the coastwise trade and the fisheries, the Secretary may require owners, masters, and charterers of documented vessels to submit reports in any reasonable form and manner the Secretary may prescribe.

(b) Vessels Rebuilt Outside United States.-

(1) In general.-Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if a vessel exceeding the tonnage specified in paragraph (2) and documented or last documented under the laws of the United States is rebuilt outside the United States, the owner or master shall submit a report of the rebuilding to the Secretary.

(2) Tonnage.-The tonnage referred to in paragraph (1) is-

(A) 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title; or

(B) an alternate tonnage as measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title.

(3) Timing of submission.-If the rebuilding is completed in the United States, the report shall be submitted when the rebuilding is completed. If the rebuilding is completed outside the United States, the report shall be submitted when the vessel first arrives at a port in the customs territory of the United States.

( Pub. L. 109–304, §5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1507 ; Pub. L. 109–241, title III, §308, July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 528 .)

Amendment Not Shown in Text

Subsection (a) of this section was derived from former section 12120 of this title, which was amended by Pub. L. 109–241, title III, §308, July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 528 . For applicability of that amendment to this section, see section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304, set out as a Legislative Purpose and Construction note preceding section 101 of this title. Former section 12120 was amended by striking "owners, masters, and charterers" and inserting "owners, masters, charterers, and mortgagees".

In subsection (b)(1), the word "Secretary" is substituted for "Secretary of the Treasury", thereby incorporating the definition of "Secretary" in section 2101 of title 46. The functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the Coast Guard previously were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by section 6(b) of the Department of Transportation Act ( Pub. L. 89–670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938 ). The Coast Guard and the functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating to the Coast Guard were again transferred to the Department of Homeland Security by section 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135 ). The words "rebuilt outside the United States" are substituted for "and any part of the rebuilding, including the construction of major components of the hull and superstructure of the vessel, is not effected within the United States, its Territories (not including trust territories) or its possessions" because of the definition of "rebuilt" in section 12101, and the definition of "United States" in chapter 1, of the revised title.