Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part B— Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter 32— MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS › § 3205
The Secretary must check that the person in charge and the vessel follow the safety rules. If they do and the person in charge asks, the Secretary must give the vessel a Safety Management Certificate and a Document of Compliance. The person in charge must keep those documents as the Secretary requires. The Secretary will do reviews or audits and can also act if problems are reported from other sources. If the person in charge or the vessel fails to follow the approved safety plan, the Secretary can cancel the plan and take away the certificates and document. The Secretary of Homeland Security can refuse or revoke a vessel’s clearance if the vessel does not have the Safety Management Certificate and a copy of the Document of Compliance on board. Clearance can be allowed if a satisfactory bond or other surety is filed.
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Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 3205
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60