{"data":{"id":"us/46-u.s.c.-55103","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 U.S.C. § 55103","heading":"Transportation of passengers","body":"(a) In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or chapter 121 of this title, a vessel may not transport passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, unless the vessel—(1) is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in the coastwise trade; and (2) has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 or is exempt from documentation but would otherwise be eligible for such a certificate and endorsement. (b) Penalty.—The penalty for violating subsection (a) is $300 for each passenger transported and landed.","path":["Title 46—SHIPPING","CHAPTER 551—COASTWISE TRADE"],"source_url":"https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/103/xml_usc46@119-103.zip","current_through":"Public Law 119-103 (09/02/2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-10T06:00:50Z","sha256":"00f27d07d0e9d65f31e20e53340e926f37fcb4ff17d26c59e3023edfdb31ee4c","source_id":"us","stale":false,"prev":"us/46-u.s.c.-55102","next":"us/46-u.s.c.-55104"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}