Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§70303 Security Standards at Foreign Ports

Title 46 › Subtitle VII — Security and Drug Enforcement › CHAPTER 703 — MARITIME SECURITY › § 70303

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must make and use a plan to check how well foreign ports that pose a high risk to passenger ships keep people and vessels safe. The Secretary must talk with the Secretary of State about the terrorist threat in each country before and during these checks. If a port fails the check, the Secretary tells the Secretary of State, who must notify that country’s government and recommend steps to fix the problems. The President is encouraged to provide maritime antiterrorism help under chapter 8 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2349aa et seq.), especially for ports found to be weak.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70303

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General Requirements.—
The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan to assess the effectiveness of the security measures maintained at foreign ports that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines pose a high risk of acts of terrorism against passenger vessels. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State about the terrorist threat that exists in each country and poses a high risk of acts of terrorism against passenger vessels.
(b)Notice and Recommendations to Other Countries.—
If the Secretary, after implementing the plan under subsection (a), determines that a port does not maintain and administer effective security measures, the Secretary of State (after being informed by the Secretary) shall—
(1)notify the appropriate government authorities of the country in which the port is located of the determination; and
(2)recommend steps necessary to bring the security measures at that port up to the standard used by the Secretary in making the assessment under subsection (a).
(c)Antiterrorism Assistance.—
The President is encouraged to provide antiterrorism assistance related to maritime security under chapter 8 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2349aa et seq.) to foreign countries, especially for a port that the Secretary determines under subsection (b) does not maintain and administer effective security measures.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7030346 App.:1803.Pub. L. 99–399, title IX, § 907(a), (b), (d), (e), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 891.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, referred to in subsec. (c), is Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424. Chapter 8 of part II of the Act is classified generally to part VIII (§ 2349aa et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 32 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2151 of Title 22 and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70303

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110