Bureau of Navigation

The Bureau of Navigation, later the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection and finally the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation — not to be confused with the United States Navy's Bureau of Navigation — was an agency of the United States Government established in 1884 to enforce laws relating to the construction, equipment, operation, inspection, safety, and documentation of merchant vessels.[1] The bureau also investigated marine accidents and casualties; collected tonnage taxes and other navigation fees; and examined, certified, and licensed merchant mariners.

For the United States Navy's Bureau of Navigation, see Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy).
Bureau of Navigation
The seal of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, as the bureau was known from 1936 until its abolition.
Flag of the Bureau of Navigation
Agency overview
Formed1884 (1884)
Dissolved1946 (1946)
Superseding agency
JurisdictionFederal government of the United States
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Parent agencyUnited States Department of the Treasury (1884–1903)
United States Department of Commerce and Labor (1903–1913)
United States Department of Commerce (1913–1946)
Footnotes
Known as the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection 1932–1936 and as the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation 1936–1946.
Sculptured relief on the facade of the United States Department of Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.

When established, the Bureau of Navigation was a part of the United States Department of the Treasury. In 1903, the organization was transferred to the newly formed United States Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1913 that department was split into the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of Labor, and the bureau was assigned to the new Department of Commerce. In 1932 the bureau was combined with the Steamboat Inspection Service to form the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection.[2] The Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection was in turn renamed the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation in 1936.[3]

In 1942, Executive Order 9083 transferred many functions of the bureau to two other agencies: Merchant vessel documentation was transferred to the United States Customs Service, while functions relating to merchant vessel inspection, safety of life at sea, and merchant mariners were transferred to the United States Coast Guard.[4] The merchant vessel documentation functions were also transferred to the Coast Guard in 1946.

With all its functions having been absorbed by the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation was abolished as unnecessary and redundant by Reorganization Plan No. III of 1946.[5]

Flags

Ships of the Bureau of Navigation, the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection, and the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation flew a blue flag with a white three-masted sailing ship within a red disc. Ships of the bureau with the director of the bureau embarked also flew the director's flag, which featured the same white three-masted sailing ship on a completely blue field.[3]

  • The flag of the Bureau of Navigation.
    The flag of the Bureau of Navigation.
  • Flag of the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation.
    Flag of the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation.

References
  1. "Bureau of Navigation Act, 1884 ~ P.L. 48-221" (PDF). 23 Stat. 118 ~ House Bill 3056. USLaw.Link. July 5, 1884.
  2. Hoover, Herbert C. (December 9, 1932). "Special Message to Congress on Reorganization of the Executive Branch - December 9, 1932". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 882–891.
  3. Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (U.S.)
  4. Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Executive Order 9083 — Redistribution of Maritime Functions" February 28, 1942". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
  5. Truman, Harry S. (May 16, 1946). "Special Message to the Congress Transmitting Reorganization Plan 3 of 1946 - May 16, 1946". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 260–266.

Sources
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