
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC3501]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part B--Inspection and Regulation of Vessels
 
                   CHAPTER 35--CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS
 
Sec. 3501. Number of passengers

    (a) Each certificate of inspection issued to a vessel carrying 
passengers (except a ferry) shall include a statement on the number of 
passengers that the vessel is permitted to carry.
    (b) The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or 
individual in charge of a vessel is liable to a person suing them for 
carrying more passengers than the number of passengers permitted by the 
certificate of inspection in an amount equal to--
        (1) passage money; and
        (2) $100 for each passenger in excess of the number of 
    passengers permitted.

    (c) An owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or 
individual in charge of a vessel that knowingly carries more passengers 
than the number of passengers permitted by the certificate of inspection 
also shall be fined not more than $100, imprisoned for not more than 30 
days, or both.
    (d) The vessel also is liable in rem for a penalty under this 
section.
    (e) An offshore supply vessel may not carry passengers except in an 
emergency.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 519; Pub. L. 99-36, 
Sec. 1(a)(2), May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 67.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3501..............................  46:404-1
                                    46:451
                                    46:452
                                    46:462
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 3501 requires that a vessel carrying passengers, including a 
passenger vessel as well as a small passenger vessel (except a ferry), 
shall have on the certificate of inspection a statement as to the number 
of passengers the vessel is permitted to carry. It also provides 
penalties for carrying passengers in excess of the number permitted.


                               Amendments

    1985--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99-36, Sec. 1(a)(2)(A), struck out the 
comma after ``(except a ferry)''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-36, Sec. 1(a)(2)(B), substituted ``carries 
more passengers than the number of passengers permitted by the 
certificate of inspection'' for ``violates subsection (b) of this 
section''.


                             Effective Date

    Chapter effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98-
89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.
