In this chapter:

(1) The term “marine highway transportation” means the carriage by a documented vessel of cargo (including such carriage of cargo and passengers), if such cargo—

(A) is—

(i) contained in intermodal cargo containers and loaded by crane on the vessel;

(ii) loaded on the vessel by means of wheeled technology, including roll-on roll-off cargo;

(iii) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation;

(iv) bulk, liquid, or loose cargo loaded in tanks, holds, hoppers, or on deck; or

(v) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats; and


(B) is—

(i) loaded at a port in the United States and unloaded either at another port in the United States or at a port in Canada or Mexico; or

(ii) loaded at a port in Canada or Mexico and unloaded at a port in the United States.


(2) The term “Tribal government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently, as of the date of enactment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

(3) The term “Alaska Native Corporation” has the meaning given the term “Native Corporation” under section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).

Terms Used In 46 USC 55605

  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • vessel: includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. See 1 USC 3