Cruise ships — HTS 8901
Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
Chapter 89 › Heading 8901
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8901 is a broad four-digit category for vessels designed mainly to transport people or goods. It groups cruise ships, excursion boats, ferries, cargo ships, barges, and similar transport vessels. The heading is about the vessel’s principal function, not simply its size, ownership, or marketing name.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTS code, start with the vessel’s design and intended use, then follow the subheadings and statistical subdivisions under heading 8901. These subdivisions generally distinguish vessel types or functions—such as passenger vessels, tankers, refrigerated cargo vessels, or other cargo vessels. Material may be relevant in some tariff classifications, but for heading 8901 the vessel’s type and primary use are usually more important. The complete tariff description, including any statistical suffix, must match the product being imported.
What to check
- Confirm the vessel’s primary function from its specifications, drawings, registration documents, and commercial description.
- Distinguish passenger transport, general cargo, tanker, refrigerated cargo, barge, ferry, and other vessel types before reviewing the eight-digit options.
- Do not classify solely by the seller’s product name; compare the vessel’s actual design, equipment, and intended service with the HTS descriptions.
- Check whether the vessel is complete, unfinished, or presented with separate components, because that can affect classification.
- Review the current HTS wording and seek a customs broker or binding ruling when the vessel has mixed functions or does not clearly fit one subdivision.
HTS heading 8901 summary
Cruise ships is a 4-digit product category containing 4 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8901.10.00.00 👉 | Cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels principally designed for the transport of persons; ferry boats of all kinds | Free | — | Free |
| 8901.20.00.00 👉 | Tankers | Free | — | Free |
| 8901.30.00.00 👉 | Refrigerated vessels, other than those of subheading 8901.20 | Free | — | Free |
| 8901.90.00.00 👉 | Other vessels for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8901?
Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.