§70005 International Agreements

Summary

The Secretary must send any rules made under this part to the Secretary of State so they can be shared with international groups as possible international standards. The President may and is encouraged to make agreements with neighboring countries to set matching vessel rules and to create, run, and keep up international vessel traffic services in places of joint concern, and also to work through international bodies to set up traffic services on parts of the high seas. If the United States is legally bound by such an agreement, the Secretary may require ships in a vessel traffic service area to use the service and install needed equipment. The Secretary may also waive some U.S. rules for foreign ships not going to or from a U.S. port, if the neighboring country gives equivalent waivers to U.S.-bound ships. Working with the International Maritime Organization, the Secretary may set up and enforce two mandatory ship reporting systems for ships entering: (1) the Cape Cod Bay / Massachusetts Bay / Great South Channel area bounded by points at 42°39′ N, 70°37′ W; 42°45′ N, 70°13′ W; 42°10′ N, 68°31′ W; 41°00′ N, 68°31′ W; 41°00′ N, 69°17′ W; 42°05′ N, 70°02′ W; 42°04′ N, 70°10′ W and along the Massachusetts shoreline back to 42°39′ N, 70°37′ W; and (2) coastal waters of the Southeastern United States within about 25 nm along a 90 nm stretch from the shoreline east to longitude 80°51.6′ W with southern and northern boundaries at latitudes 30°00′ N and 31°27′ N.