§80508 Amendments to Convention

Summary

The Secretary of State, with agreement from the Secretary who runs the Coast Guard’s department, can propose changes to the Convention or ask for a conference under article IX. If an amendment is sent to the United States under article IX(2), the President, with the Senate’s approval, can accept it for the country. The President may also say the United States does not accept the amendment. The Secretary of State, with that same agreement, can propose changes to the Convention’s annexes, ask for a conference about annexes, and must consider annex changes the IMO Maritime Safety Committee sends under article X(2). If the United States approves an annex change, it becomes effective as article X says. If the United States objects, the Secretary must quickly send that objection under article X(3). The Secretary of State must also appoint an arbitrator when article XIII says one is needed to resolve a dispute.