46 U.S.C. § 12131

Command of documented vessels

(a) In General.—

Except as provided in subsection (b), a documented vessel may be placed under the command only of a citizen or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1408 )) of the United States.

(b) Exceptions.—

Subsection (a) does not apply to—

(1)

a vessel with only a recreational endorsement; or

(2)

an unmanned barge operating outside of the territorial waters of the United States.

( Pub. L. 109–304, § 5 , Oct. 6, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1505 ; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3529(a)(3) , Jan. 28, 2008 , 122 Stat. 603 ; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(b)(2)(C) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1752 .)