---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12115"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12115"
heading: "Temporary endorsement for vessels procured outside the United States"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12115"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 121 — Documentation of Vessels"
  - "Subchapter II — Endorsements and Special Documentation"
---

# §12115. Temporary endorsement for vessels procured outside the United States

- (a) **General Authority.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) and the Secretary of State, acting jointly, may provide for the issuance of a [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of documentation with an appropriate endorsement for a [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) procured outside the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) and meeting the ownership requirements of [section 12103 of this title](/usc/46/12103.md).
- (b) **Authorized Activity.—** Subject to limitations the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may prescribe, a [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) documented under this section may proceed to the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) and engage en route in [foreign trade](/usc/46/109.md?p=a) or trade with Guam, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, or Kingman Reef.
- (c) **Application of United States Jurisdiction and Laws.—** A [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) documented under this section is subject to the jurisdiction and laws of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md). However, if the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) considers it to be in the public interest, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may suspend for a period of not more than 6 months the application of a [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) inspection law carried out by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) or regulations prescribed under that law.
- (d) **Surrender of Certificate.—** On the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md)’s arrival in the [United States](/usc/46/114.md), the [certificate](/usc/46/55104.md?p=a-1) of documentation shall be surrendered as provided by regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1498.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 12115(a) | 46:12112(a). |  |
| 12115(b) | 46:12112(b) (1st sentence). |  |
| 12115(c) | 46:12112(c). |  |
| 12115(d) | 46:12112(b) (last sentence). |  |

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12115, Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 589, originally derived from section 65d of former Title 46, Shipping, related to names of vessels, prior to being repealed by Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §§ 106(b)(5), 107(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4752, effective Jan. 1, 1989.