Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60
§3822 Foreign Vessels
Title 22 › Chapter 51— PANAMA CANAL › Subchapter I— ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS › Part 8— Shipping and Navigation › Subpart ii— inspection of vessels › § 3822
Summary
If a foreign ship comes from a country whose inspection rules are like the United States and it has a current inspection certificate from that country, U.S. officials must only check that the ship, its boilers, and its lifesaving gear match what the certificate says. The U.S. will accept that certificate only if the other country gives U.S. ships the same treatment under its laws.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §3822
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
With respect to a foreign vessel of a country which has inspection laws approximating those of the United States, any such vessel having an unexpired certificate of inspection duly issued by the authorities of such country shall not be subject to an inspection other than that necessary to determine whether the vessel, its boilers, and its lifesaving equipment are as stated in the certificate of inspection. A certificate of inspection may not be accepted as evidence of lawful inspection under this section unless similar privileges are granted to vessels of the United States under the laws of the country to which the vessel belongs.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 3822
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60