
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: 46USC5109]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                      Part C--Load Lines of Vessels
 
                         CHAPTER 51--LOAD LINES
 
Sec. 5109. Reciprocity for foreign vessels

    (a) When the Secretary finds that the laws and regulations of a 
foreign country related to load lines are similar to those of this 
chapter and the regulations prescribed under this chapter, or when a 
foreign country is a party to an international load line agreement to 
which the United States Government is a party, the Secretary shall 
accept the load line marks and certificate of a vessel of that foreign 
country as complying with this chapter and the regulations prescribed 
under this chapter. The Secretary may control the vessel as provided for 
in the applicable international agreement.
    (b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a vessel of a 
foreign country that does not recognize load lines assigned under this 
chapter.

(Pub. L. 99-509, title V, Sec. 5101(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1917.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 5109
    Source: Section (U.S. Code) 46 App. U.S.C. 86f, 88d.
    Section 5109(a) requires the Secretary to accept the load line mark 
and load line certificate of a vessel of a foreign country if the 
Secretary finds that the load line laws and regulations of that country 
are similar to those of this chapter, or if that country is a party to 
an international load line agreement to which the United States is a 
party.
