International Voyage Load Line Act of 1973
Public Law 93-115 · S. 1352 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Oct 1, 1973 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Hubert Humphrey
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
International Voyage Load Line Act - Directs the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe loadlines, the marking therof and associated condition surveys for vessels engaged in international voyages. Provides that the Secretary shall indicate the minimum freebord to which each vessel may be loaded, giving due consideration to, and making differentials for, the service, type, and character of each vessel.
Permits the Secretary, with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, to utilize officers of the bureau of Customs to enforce this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to issue a loadline certificate upon completion of survey requirements and a finding that the loadline is positioned and marked in the manner prescribed. Authorizes the appointment of surveyors and the revocation of such appointment by the Secretary.
Provides for the issuance of a certificate of exemption to a vessel, which is so entitled by virtue of an international agreement to which the United States is signatory. Provides for the recognition of loadlines required by foreign countries, when they are equally effective.
Prohibits any vessel from being loaded so as to submerge the prescribed loadline. Authorizes the Secretary to detain any vessel which violates the provisions of this Act. Imposes various civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · discharged from, referred to
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.
- Oct 1, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-115.
- Sep 19, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 18, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House in lieu of H.R. 5384.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 28, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 27, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Jun 25, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Mar 22, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.