                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
              CHAPTER 3--THE TARIFF AND RELATED PROVISIONS
 
                   SUBTITLE IV--CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
 
                        Administrative Provisions
 
       part 2--report, entry, and unlading of vessels and vehicles
 
Sec. 288. Documented vessels

    Documented vessels with a registry endorsement, engaged in foreign 
trade on the Great Lakes or their tributary or connecting waters in 
trade with Canada, shall not thereby become liable to the payment of 
entry and clearance fees.

(R.S. Sec. 2793; Sept. 25, 1941, ch. 423, 55 Stat. 733; Pub. L. 103-182, 
title VI, Sec. 686(a)(1), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2220; Pub. L. 104-324, 
title XI, Sec. 1115(b)(4), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3972.)

                          Codification

    R.S. Sec. 2793 derived from Res. Feb. 10, 1871, No. 27, Sec. 2, 16 
Stat. 595.
    Provisions of this section are also set out in section 111 of Title 
46, Appendix, Shipping.
    Provision of R.S. Sec. 2793 respecting tonnage duties is classified 
to section 123 of Title 46, Appendix.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-324 substituted ``registry endorsement, engaged in 
foreign trade on the Great Lakes or their tributary or connecting waters 
in trade with Canada,'' for ``coastwise, Great Lakes endorsement, 
departing from or arriving at a port in one district to or from a port 
in another district, and also touching at intermediate foreign ports,'' 
and struck out ``, as if from or to foreign ports'' before period at 
end.
    1993--Pub. L. 103-182 substituted ``Documented vessels with a 
coastwise, Great Lakes endorsement,'' for ``Enrolled or licensed vessels 
engaged in the foreign and coasting trade on the northern, northeastern, 
and northwestern frontiers of the United States,'' and ``foreign 
ports.'' for ``foreign ports; but such vessel shall, notwithstanding, be 
required to enter and clear; except that when such vessels are on such 
voyages on the Great Lakes and touch at foreign ports for the purpose of 
taking on bunker fuel only, they may be exempted from entering and 
clearing under such rules and regulations as the Commissioner of Customs 
may prescribe, notwithstanding any other provisions of law: Provided, 
That this exception shall not apply to such vessels if, while at such 
foreign port, they land or take on board any passengers, or any 
merchandise other than bunker fuel, receive orders, discharge any seamen 
by mutual consent, or engage any seamen to replace those discharged by 
mutual consent, or transact any other business save that of taking on 
bunker fuel.''
    1941--Act Sept. 25, 1941, inserted exception and proviso at end of 
section.
