Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.

Section, as added and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, is based on section 7 of act Mar. 4, 1915, ch. 142, 38 Stat. 1053; act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §§ 1, 20, 63 Stat. 496, 561; Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(b)(1), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938; Pub. L. 97–449, § 2(d)(1), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2440; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(j), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 568; Pub. L. 111–281, title III, § 301, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2923, which was formerly classified to section 471 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, before being transferred to this title and renumbered as this section.

Section was originally from the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1915.

Section probably supersedes acts May 16, 1888, ch. 257, §§ 1, 2, 25 Stat. 151, relative to anchorage grounds in port of New York, Mar. 3, 1899, ch. 424, § 1, 30 Stat. 1074, extending anchorage regulations for port of New York, Feb. 6, 1893, ch. 64, §§ 1, 2, 27 Stat. 431, relative to anchorage grounds in port of Chicago, and June 6, 1900, ch. 819, §§ 1, 2, 31 Stat. 682, relative to anchorage grounds in Kennebec River.

2021—Pub. L. 116–283, § 8501(a)(6), transferred section 7 of act Mar. 4, 1915, ch. 142, to this title and renumbered it as this section, substituted “Establishment by Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating of anchorage grounds and regulations generally” for “Establishment by Secretary of Homeland Security of anchorage grounds and regulations generally” in section catchline, and realigned margins. See Codification note above.

“Coast Guard” and “Coast Guard vessel” substituted in text for “Revenue Cutter Service” and “revenue cutter”, respectively, the Revenue Cutter Service and Life-Saving Service having been combined to form the Coast Guard by act Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, § 1, 38 Stat. 800. That act was repealed by act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, § 20, 63 Stat. 561, section 1 of which reestablished the Coast Guard by enacting Title 14, Coast Guard.

“Secretary of Transportation” substituted for “Secretary of the Treasury” in provision covering enforcement of rules and regulations by Coast Guard pursuant to section 6(b)(1) of Pub. L. 89–670, which transferred to Secretary of Transportation functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Treasury and of other offices and officers of Department of the Treasury relating to Coast Guard. Section 6(b)(2) of Pub. L. 89–670, however, provided that notwithstanding such transfer of functions, the Coast Guard shall operate as part of the Navy in time of war or when President directs as provided in former section 3 (now 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard. See section 108 of Title 49, Transportation. For subsequent transfers relating to the Secretary of Transportation and the Coast Guard, see below.

Section 6(g)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 89–670, transferred functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other officers and offices of Department of the Army [formerly War] relating generally to water vessel anchorages under this section to Secretary of Transportation. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect the transfer made by section 6(g)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(1)(A).

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.