Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§70005 International agreements

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle VII— - Security and Drug Enforcement › Chapter CHAPTER 700— - PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - VESSEL OPERATIONS › § 70005

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must send any regulations made under this part to international groups through the Secretary of State so those groups can consider them as global standards. The President may and is urged to make agreements with nearby countries, and with international organizations, to set matching ship rules and to set up, run, and keep vessel traffic services where both countries or the high seas need them. Under a binding agreement, the Secretary can require ships in a vessel traffic service area to use the service and carry or install needed equipment. The Secretary can also waive U.S. rules on ship design, operation, equipment, crew training, and staffing for a foreign ship in U.S. waters if that ship is not going to or from a U.S. port and the neighboring country gives the same waivers for ships going to or from U.S. ports in its waters. With the International Maritime Organization, the Secretary may set up and enforce two required ship-reporting systems for vessels entering these Atlantic areas. Area 1 is Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and Great South Channel, bounded by the line through these points: 42°39′N, 70°37′W; 42°45′N, 70°13′W; 42°10′N, 68°31′W; 41°00′N, 68°31′W; 41°00′N, 69°17′W; 42°05′N, 70°02′W; 42°04′N, 70°10′W; and along the Massachusetts shoreline back to 42°39′N, 70°37′W. Area 2 is coastal waters of the Southeastern United States within about 25 nautical miles from the shore along a 90 nautical mile stretch, extending seaward to longitude 80°51.6′W between latitudes 30°00′N and 31°27′N.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70005

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall transmit, via the Secretary of State, to appropriate international bodies or forums, any regulations issued under this subchapter, for consideration as international standards.

(b)The President is authorized and encouraged to—

(1)enter into negotiations and conclude and execute agreements with neighboring nations, to establish compatible vessel standards and vessel traffic services, and to establish, operate, and maintain international vessel traffic services, in areas and under circumstances of mutual concern; and

(2)enter into negotiations, through appropriate international bodies, and conclude and execute agreements to establish vessel traffic services in appropriate areas of the high seas.

(c)The Secretary, pursuant to any agreement negotiated under subsection (b) that is binding upon the United States in accordance with constitutional requirements, may—

(1)require vessels operating in an area of a vessel traffic service to utilize or to comply with the vessel traffic service, including the carrying or installation of equipment and devices as necessary for the use of the service; and

(2)waive, by order or regulation, the application of any United States law or regulation concerning the design, construction, operation, equipment, personnel qualifications, and manning standards for vessels operating in waters over which the United States exercises jurisdiction if such vessel is not en route to or from a United States port or place, and if vessels en route to or from a United States port or place are accorded equivalent waivers of laws and regulations of the neighboring nation, when operating in waters over which that nation exercises jurisdiction.

(d)The Secretary, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, may implement and enforce two mandatory ship reporting systems, consistent with international law, with respect to vessels subject to such reporting systems entering the following areas of the Atlantic Ocean:

(1)Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and Great South Channel (in the area generally bounded by a line starting from a point on Cape Ann, Massachusetts at 42 deg. 39′ N., 70 deg. 37′ W; then northeast to 42 deg. 45′ N., 70 deg. 13′ W; then southeast to 42 deg. 10′ N., 68 deg. 31′ W, then south to 41 deg. 00′ N., 68 deg. 31′ W; then west to 41 deg. 00′ N., 69 deg. 17′ W; then northeast to 42 deg. 05′ N., 70 deg. 02′ W, then west to 42 deg. 04′ N., 70 deg. 10′ W; and then along the Massachusetts shoreline of Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay back to the point on Cape Ann at 42 deg. 39′ N., 70 deg. 37′ W).

(2)In the coastal waters of the Southeastern United States within about 25 nm along a 90 nm stretch of the Atlantic seaboard (in an area generally extending from the shoreline east to longitude 80 deg. 51.6′ W with the southern and northern boundary at latitudes 30 deg. 00′ N., 31 deg. 27′ N., respectively).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70005

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73