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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§70305 Suspension of passenger services

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle VII— - Security and Drug Enforcement › Chapter CHAPTER 703— - MARITIME SECURITY › § 70305

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can block passenger ships from using a foreign country's ports when the President decides that country allows, trains, shelters, or helps terrorists who knowingly seize or threaten to seize passenger ships. The ban can start without notice or a hearing and can last as long as the President thinks is needed to keep passenger ships safe. Passenger carriers and U.S. passenger ships must follow the ban. If someone breaks it, the Secretary can bar that person's ships from U.S. ports. The person can be fined up to $50,000, and each day a banned port is used is a separate violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70305

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whenever the President determines that a foreign nation permits the use of territory under its jurisdiction as a base of operations or training for, or as a sanctuary for, or in any way arms, aids, or abets, a terrorist or terrorist group that knowingly uses the illegal seizure of passenger vessels or the threat thereof as an instrument of policy, the President may suspend the right of any passenger vessel common carrier to operate to or from, and the right of any passenger vessel of the United States to use, a port in that foreign nation for passenger service. The suspension may be without notice or hearing and for as long as the President determines is necessary to ensure the security of passenger vessels against unlawful seizure.
(b)A passenger vessel common carrier, or a passenger vessel of the United States, may not operate in violation of a suspension under this section.
(c)(1)If a person operates a vessel in violation of this section, the Secretary may deny the vessels of that person entry to ports of the United States.
(2)A person violating this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $50,000. Each day a vessel uses a prohibited port is a separate violation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7030546 App.:1805.Pub. L. 99–399, title IX, § 909, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 892.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70305

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73