46 U.S.C. § 53901 — Definitions

In this chapter: (1) American vessel^*. — The term “American vessel” includes — (A) a documented vessel^* with a registry or coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of this title; (B) an undocumented^* vessel owned or chartered by or made available to the United States Government; and (C) a tug, barge^*, or other watercraft (whether or not documented) owned by a citizen of the United States and used in essential water transportation or in the fisheries^*, except only for sport fishing. (2) Cargo. — The term “cargo” includes a loaded or empty container on a vessel. (3) Transportation in the waterborne commerce of the united states. — The term “transportation in the waterborne commerce of the United States” includes the operation of a vessel in the fisheries, except only for sport fishing. (4) War risks. — The term “war risks” includes, to the extent the Secretary of Transportation determines — (A) any part of a loss excluded from marine insurance coverage under a “free of capture or seizure” clause or analogous clause; and (B) any other loss from a hostile act, including confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, or deprivation.