FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 47: Transportation › Subpart 47.5
FAR 47.501 Definitions.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
This section defines terms used in the FAR subpart about vessel transportation. It explains what different types of vessels mean, such as dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, foreign-flag vessels, Government vessels, privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessels, and tankers. Contractors need these definitions to understand which rules apply to specific vessel types in this subpart.
Applies to: Contractors involved in vessel transportation under this FAR subpart
Key terms: Dry bulk carrier · Dry cargo liner · Foreign-flag vessel · Government vessel · Privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessel
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As used in this subpart—
Dry bulk carrier means a vessel used primarily for the carriage of shipload lots of homogeneous unmarked nonliquid cargoes such as grain, coal, cement, and lumber.
Dry cargo liner means a vessel used for the carriage of heterogeneous marked cargoes in parcel lots. However, any cargo may be carried in these vessels, including part cargoes of dry bulk items or, when carried in deep tanks, bulk liquids such as petroleum and vegetable oils.
Foreign-flag vessel means any vessel of foreign registry including vessels owned by U.S. citizens but registered in a nation other than the United States.
Government vessel means a vessel owned by the U.S. Government and operated directly by the Government or for the Government by an agent or contractor, including a privately owned U.S.-flag vessel under bareboat charter to the Government.
Privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessel means a vessel (1) registered and operated under the laws of the United States, (2) used in commercial trade of the United States, (3) owned and operated by U.S. citizens, including a vessel under voyage or time charter to the Government, and (4) a Government-owned vessel under bareboat charter to, and operated by, U.S. citizens.
Tanker means a vessel used primarily for the carriage of bulk liquid cargoes such as liquid petroleum products, vegetable oils, and molasses.
U.S.-flag vessel when used independently means either a Government vessel or a privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessel.
← 47.500 Scope of subpart. · 47.502 Policy. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 47
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Training To Prevent Human Trafficking for Certain Air Carriers; Correction ↗ · final rule 2024-12-30 · effective 2025-01-03
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Training To Prevent Human Trafficking for Certain Air Carriers ↗ · final rule 2024-12-16 · effective 2025-01-03
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.