Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter 30 — International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
§ 1601. Definitions
Statutory text
For the purposes of this chapter—
“vessel” means every description of watercraft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; and
“high seas” means all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of any nation.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
International Navigational Rules Act of 1977
Pub. L. 95–75 § 2 · 91 Stat. 308
Enacted · 33 U.S.C. § 1601
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 2, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(Pub. L. 95–75, § 2, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 308.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 2. For the purposes of this Act— (1) “vessel” means every description of watercraft, including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; and (2) “high seas” means all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of any nation.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in opening par., was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–75, , 91 Stat. 308, known as the “International Navigational Rules Act of 1977”, which enacted this chapter, repealed sections 1051 to 1094 of this title, enacted provisions set out as notes under this section, and repealed provision set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of International Regulations; Repeal of Former Regulations
Pub. L. 95–75, § 10, , 91 Stat. 311, provided in part that Pub. L. 88–131, enacting sections 1051 to 1094 of this title and a provision set out as a note under section 1051 of this title which sections included the former International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, was repealed effective on the date on which the International Regulations [promulgated pursuant to this chapter] entered into force for the United States []. See Proclamation dated , set out as a note under section 1602 of this title.
References to Former Regulations
Pub. L. 95–75, § 10, , 91 Stat. 311, provided in part that: “The reference in any other law to Public Law 88–131 [enacting sections 1051 to 1094 of this title and enacting a provision set out as a note under section 1051 of this title], or to the regulations set forth in section 4 of that Act [sections 1061 to 1094 of this title], shall be considered a reference, respectively, to this Act [this chapter], or to the International Regulations proclaimed hereunder [set out as a note under section 1602 of this title].”
Short Title
Pub. L. 95–75, § 1, , 91 Stat. 308, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter, repealing sections 1051 to 1094 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 1051 of this title] may be cited as the ‘International Navigational Rules Act of 1977’.”