Title 6, Domestic SecurityRelease 119-110

§942 Post-incident Resumption of Trade

Title 6 › CHAPTER 3 — SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY PORT › SUBCHAPTER II — SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN › Part A — General Provisions › § 942

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create and update plans to get trade moving again after a transportation disruption or security incident. The plans must name who leads the response if the Coast Guard Commandant is not the right person, say which agencies will take charge, explain how to move people and resources back into action, require training for Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration, and list factors to decide which ships and cargo should go first, including public health, national security, and economic need. The Coast Guard Commandant may give priority to vessels that have an approved security plan or a valid international ship security certificate, are crewed by certain authorized personnel, or are run by validated Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C–TPAT) participants. The CBP Commissioner may favor cargo from Container Security Initiative ports, from validated C–TPAT supply chains, or cargo that has had a nuclear or radiological scan, an x‑ray/density or similar imaging scan, and a verified container ID at the last port analyzed by CBP. The Secretary must make sure the Coast Guard, CBP, and other federal officials coordinate and quickly tell the private sector any new procedures after a maritime disruption.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §942

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary shall develop and update, as necessary, protocols for the resumption of trade in accordance with section 941(b)(10) of this title in the event of a transportation disruption or a transportation security incident. The protocols shall include—

(1)the identification of the appropriate initial incident commander, if the Commandant of the Coast Guard is not the appropriate person, and lead departments, agencies, or offices to execute such protocols;

(2)a plan to redeploy resources and personnel, as necessary, to reestablish the flow of trade;

(3)a plan to provide training for the periodic instruction of personnel of the United States Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration in trade resumption functions and responsibilities; and

(4)appropriate factors for establishing prioritization of vessels and cargo determined by the President to be critical for response and recovery, including factors relating to public health, national security, and economic need.

(b)Vessels

In determining the prioritization of vessels accessing facilities (as defined under section 70101 of title 46), the Commandant of the Coast Guard may, to the extent practicable and consistent with the protocols and plans required under this section to ensure the safe and secure transit of vessels to ports in the United States after a transportation security incident, give priority to a vessel—

(1)that has an approved security plan under section 70103(c) of title 46 or a valid international ship security certificate, as provided under part 104 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2)that is manned by individuals who are described in section 70105(b)(2)(B) of title 46; and

(3)that is operated by validated participants in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.

(c)Cargo

In determining the prioritization of the resumption of the flow of cargo and consistent with the protocols established under this section, the Commissioner may give preference to cargo—

(1)entering a port of entry directly from a foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative;

(2)from the supply chain of a validated C–TPAT participant and other private sector entities, as appropriate; or

(3)that has undergone—

(A)a nuclear or radiological detection scan;

(B)an x-ray, density, or other imaging scan; and

(C)a system to positively identify the container at the last port of departure prior to arrival in the United States, which data has been evaluated and analyzed by personnel of the United States Customs and Border Protection.

(d)Coordination

The Secretary shall ensure that there is appropriate coordination among the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Commissioner, and other Federal officials following a maritime disruption or maritime transportation security incident in order to provide for the resumption of trade.

(e)Communication

Consistent with section 941 of this title, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Commissioner, and other appropriate Federal officials, shall promptly communicate any revised procedures or instructions intended for the private sector following a maritime disruption or maritime transportation security incident.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 942

Title 6, Domestic Security

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110