Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§3204 Implementation of Safety Management System
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › CHAPTER 32 — MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS › § 3204
Summary
Each responsible person must send the Secretary a safety management plan that explains how they and their covered vessels will follow the rules in section 3203(a). The Secretary will review the plan and approve it if it fits and helps carry out the safety system in section 3203. A vessel covered under section 3202(a) may not operate unless it has a Safety Management Certificate and a copy of a Document of Compliance issued under section 3205.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §3204
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Safety Management Plan.—
Each responsible person shall establish and submit to the Secretary for approval a safety management plan describing how that person and vessels of the person to which this chapter applies will comply with the regulations prescribed under section 3203(a) of this title.
(b)Approval.—
Upon receipt of a safety management plan submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall review the plan and approve it if the Secretary determines that it is consistent with and will assist in implementing the safety management system established under section 3203.
(c)Prohibition on Vessel Operation.—
A vessel to which this chapter applies under section 3202(a) may not be operated without having on board a Safety Management Certificate and a copy of a Document of Compliance issued for the vessel under section 3205 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 3204
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110