California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 238

(a) “Vessel” includes every species of watercraft, by whatsoever power operated, which is owned, controlled, operated or managed for public use in the transportation of persons or property, except rowboats, sailing boats, barges under 20 tons dead weight carrying capacity, and vessels which are both under the burden of five tons net register and under 30 feet in length.  However, a vessel which is under the burden of five tons net register but is 30 or more feet in length is not a “vessel” for the purpose of this section if it is used to provide ship-to-shore services by which stores, supplies, spares, passengers, or crew of oceangoing ships are transported to or from ship and shore and payment for such services is made by, or arranged through, the oceangoing shipping company (commonly referred to as water taxi services).

(b) Nothing in this code except those provisions relating to the regulation of rates shall apply to the transportation by a water carrier of commodities in bulk when the cargo space of the vessel in which such commodities are transported is being used for the carrying of not more than three such commodities.  This subsection shall apply only in the case of commodities, in bulk which are loaded and carried without wrappers or containers and received and delivered by the carrier without transportation mark or count.  For the purposes of this subsection two or more vessels while navigated as a unit shall be considered to be a single vessel.

(c) Nothing in this code shall apply to the transportation by water of liquid cargoes in bulk in tank vessels designed for use exclusively in such service.

(d) Any person or corporation lawfully engaged in business in the transportation of persons or property during the entire one-year period preceding March 1, 1993, and continuously thereafter, and which, solely by virtue of the amendment to subdivision (a) made by the act that adds this subdivision, will become subject to commission regulation as a common carrier by vessel, shall file with the commission, prior to March 1, 1994, an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate as a common carrier by vessel.  However, in lieu of all other fees required by law, the applicant shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50).  The commission shall issue the certificate without further proceedings authorizing operation over the specific routes or within the specific area which conforms to proof of actual service in the transportation of persons or property as produced by the applicant with respect to its operations during the entire one-year period preceding March 1, 1993, and continuously thereafter.