---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12138"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12138"
heading: "List of documented vessels"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12138"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 121 — Documentation of Vessels"
  - "Subchapter III — Miscellaneous"
---

# §12138. List of documented vessels

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall publish periodically a list of all [documented vessels](/usc/46/106.md) and information about those [vessels](/usc/46/115.md) that the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) considers pertinent or useful. The list shall contain a notation clearly indicating all [vessels](/usc/46/115.md) classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
- (b) **Vessels for Cable Laying, Maintenance, and Repair.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of Transportation shall develop, maintain, and periodically update an inventory of [vessels](/usc/46/115.md) that are documented under this chapter, are at least 200 feet in length, and have the capability to lay, maintain, or repair a submarine cable, without regard to whether a particular [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) is classed as a cable ship or cable [vessel](/usc/46/115.md).
  - (2) **Information to be included.—** For each [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) listed in the inventory, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of Transportation shall include in the inventory—
    - (A) the name, length, beam, depth, and other distinguishing characteristics of the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md);
    - (B) the abilities and limitations of the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) with respect to laying, maintaining, and repairing a submarine cable; and
    - (C) the name and address of the person to whom inquiries regarding the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) may be made.
  - (3) **Publication.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of Transportation shall publish in the Federal [Register](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1) an updated inventory every 6 months.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 5, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1507.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 12138(a) | 46:12119. |  |
| 12138(b) | 46:12119 note. | Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 403, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2114. |

In subsection (b), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Secretary of Transportation” for consistency in the chapter.