46 C.F.R. § 69.11 Determining the measurement system or systems for a particular vessel.
Title 46 - Shipping
(a) Convention Measurement System (subpart B). (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this system applies to a vessel documented or to be documented under part 67 of this chapter and to a vessel engaged on a foreign voyage. (2) This system does not apply to the following vessels: (i) A vessel of less than 79 feet in overall length. (ii) A vessel operating only on the Great Lakes, unless the owner requests measurement under this system. (iii) A vessel that is not engaged on a foreign voyage and that had its keel laid or was at a similar stage of construction before January 1, 1986, unless the owner requests measurement under the Convention Measurement System or unless, on or after January 1, 1986, the vessel undergoes a change that the Commandant finds substantially affects the vessel's gross tonnage. (iv) A vessel of war. (v) A non-self-propelled vessel not engaged on a foreign voyage, unless the owner requests measurement under this system. (3) A vessel made subject to this system at the request of the owner may be remeasured only under this system. (4) For the purpose of vessel documentation, a vessel measured under this system is not required to be measured under another system. (5) A vessel the keel of which was laid or that was at a similar stage of construction before July 18, 1982, (except a vessel measured under this system at the request of the owner or because of a change that substantially affects the vessel's gross tonnage) may retain its tonnage in effect on July 18, 1994, for the application of relevant requirements under an international agreement (except the Convention) or other laws of the United States. However, if the vessel undergoes a change after July 18, 1994, that the Commandant finds substantially affects the vessel's gross tonnage, the vessel must be remeasured only under this system. (6) A tonnage assignment under this system does not affect the applicability to the vessel of international agreements to which the United States Government is a party that are not in conflict with the Convention or with the application of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolutions A.494(XII) of November 19, 1981, A.540(XIII) of November 17, 1983, and A.541(XIII) of November 17, 1983. When applicable to the vessel, these Resolutions provide interim schemes for using the vessel's existing gross tonnage, instead of the gross tonnage under the Convention Measurement System, for applying the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, (STCW), and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, (MARPOL), respectively. (b) Standard Measurement System (subpart C). This system applies to a vessel not required to be measured under the Convention Measurement System if the vessel is to be documented or if the application of a law of the United States to the vessel depends on the vessel's tonnage. Upon request of the owner, this system also applies to a documented vessel measured under the Convention Measurement System when Standard Measurement System tonnages are to be used in applying the provisions of a law under 46 U.S.C. 14305. (c) Dual Measurement System (subpart D). This system may be applied, at the owner's option, instead of the Standard Measurement System, to a vessel eligible or required to be measured under the Standard Measurement System. (d) Simplified Measurement System (subpart E). This system may be applied, at the owner's option, instead of the Standard Measurement System to the following vessels: (1) A vessel that is under 79 feet in overall length. (2) A vessel of any length that is non-self-propelled and not engaged on a foreign voyage. (3) A vessel of any length that is operated only for pleasure and operated only on the Great Lakes. [CGD 87–015b, 54 FR 37657, Sept. 12, 1989, as amended by CGD 92–058, 57 FR 59938, Dec. 17, 1992; CGD 95–028, 62 FR 51203, Sept. 30, 1997]
Title 46: Shipping
PART 69—MEASUREMENT OF VESSELS
Subpart A—General
§ 69.11 Determining the measurement system or systems for a particular vessel.
