Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§80508 Amendments to Convention

Title 46 › Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous › CHAPTER 805 — SAFE CONTAINERS FOR INTERNATIONAL CARGO › § 80508

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of State, with the agreement of the Secretary whose department runs the Coast Guard, to propose changes to the Convention or ask for a conference under article IX. If another country sends an amendment under article IX(2), the President, with the Senate’s approval, may accept it for the United States or say the United States does not accept it. The Secretary of State may also propose or review changes to the annexes and must act on annex amendments sent by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee under article X(2). Approved annex changes take effect under article X; objections must be sent quickly under article X(3). The Secretary of State must appoint an arbitrator when one is needed under article XIII.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §80508

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(a)Proposals by United States.—
The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, may propose amendments to the Convention or request a conference for amending the Convention as provided in article IX of the Convention.
(b)Proposals by Other Countries.—
An amendment communicated to the United States under article IX(2) of the Convention may be accepted for the United States by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President may declare that the United States does not accept an amendment.
(c)Amendments to Annexes.—
(1)In general.—
The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating—
(A)may propose amendments to the annexes to the Convention;
(B)may propose a conference for amending annexes to the Convention; and
(C)shall consider and act on amendments to the annexes to the Convention adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization and communicated to the United States under article X(2) of the Convention.
(2)Action following approval or objection.—
If a proposed amendment to an annex is approved by the United States, the amendment shall enter into force as provided in article X of the Convention. If a proposed amendment is objected to, the Secretary of State promptly shall communicate the objection as provided in article X(3) of the Convention.
(d)Appointment of Arbitrator.—
The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall appoint an arbitrator when one is required to resolve a dispute within the meaning of article XIII of the Convention.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 8050846 App.:1507.Pub. L. 95–208, § 8, Dec. 13, 1977, 91 Stat. 1479.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 80508

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110