Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 3.djvu/109

 PUBLIC LAW 99-509—OCT. 21, 1986

100 STAT. 1917

"(1) the vessel is entitled to an exemption under an international agreement to which the United States Government is a party; or "(2) under regulations (including regulations on special oper' ations conditions) prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary finds that good cause exists for granting an exemption. "(b) When the Secretary grants an exemption under this section, the Secretary may issue a certificate of exemption stating the extent of the exemption. "(c) A certificate of exemption issued under subsection (b) of this section shall be maintained as required by the Secretary.

International agreements,

International "§ 5109. Reciprocity for foreign vessels agreements. "(a) When the Secretary finds that the laws and regulations of a 46 USC 5109. 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. ~.

"§ 5110. Submersible vessels "Notwithstanding sections 5103-5105 of this title, the Secretary may prescribe regulations for submersible vessels to provide a minimum level of safety. In developing the regulations, the Secretary shall consider factors relevant to submersible vessels, including the structure, stability, and watertight integrity of those vessels.

46 USC 5110.

"§ 5111. Providing loading information "The Secretary may prescribe regulations requiring the owner, charterer, managing operator, and agent of a vessel to provide loading information (including information on loading distribution, stability, and margin of strength) to the master or individual in charge of the vessel in a language the master or individual understands.

46 USC 5111.

"§ 5112. Loading restrictions "(a) A vessel may not be loaded in a way that submerges the assigned load line or the place at which the load line is required to be marked on the vessel. "(b) If the loading or stability conditions of a vessel change, the master or individual in charge of the vessel, before moving the vessel, shall record in the official logbook or other permanent record of the vessel— "(1) the position of the assigned load line relative to the water j surface; and "(2) the draft of the vessel fore and aft. "(c) A vessel may be operated only if the loading distribution, stability, and margin of strength are adequate for the voyage or movement intended. "(d) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to a submersible vessel.

46 USC 5112.

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Records,

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