Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§4309 Investigation and Reporting

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part B— Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter 43— RECREATIONAL VESSELS › § 4309

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Manufacturers of recreational boats must keep records and give the Secretary any information needed to show they are following the rules. If a person the Secretary authorizes asks, the manufacturer must allow them to inspect factories, other facilities, and related records at reasonable times. Information that includes trade secrets or is protected under 18 U.S.C. 1905 or 5 U.S.C. 552(b) is treated as confidential. The Secretary can approve sharing it with other officials who work on these rules or when it is needed in a proceeding under this chapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §4309

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A recreational vessel manufacturer to whom this chapter applies shall establish and maintain records and reports and provide information the Secretary may require to enable the Secretary to decide whether the manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with this chapter and regulations prescribed under this chapter. On request of an officer, employee, or agent authorized by the Secretary, a recreational vessel manufacturer shall permit the officer, employee, or agent to inspect, at reasonable times, factories or other facilities, and records related to deciding whether the manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with this chapter and regulations prescribed under this chapter.
(b)Information reported to or otherwise obtained by the Secretary or the representative of the Secretary under this section containing or related to a trade secret or other matter referred to in section 1905 of title 18, or authorized to be exempt from public disclosure by section 552(b) of title 5, is confidential under section 1905. However, on approval of the Secretary, the information may be disclosed to other officers, employees, or agents concerned with carrying out this chapter or when it is relevant in a proceeding under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 430946:1463 section 4309 requires the establishment and maintenance of certain records by manufacturers, and the inspection and access to these records by the Secretary, at reasonable times, so as to assure Federal

Enforcement

officials that the manufacturer has acted or is in compliance with applicable laws and

Regulations

. It also provides protection for matters related to trade secrets and exemptions from public disclosure.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 4309

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60