
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC14307]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                     Part J--Measurement of Vessels
 
                   CHAPTER 143--CONVENTION MEASUREMENT
 
Sec. 14307. Inspection of foreign vessels

    (a) The Secretary may inspect a vessel of a foreign country to 
verify that--
        (1) the vessel has an International Tonnage Certificate (1969) 
    and the main characteristics of the vessel correspond to the 
    information in the certificate; or
        (2) if the vessel is from a country not a party to the 
    Convention, the vessel has been measured under laws and regulations 
    similar to those of this chapter and the regulations prescribed 
    under this chapter.

    (b) For a vessel of a country that is a party to the Convention, if 
the inspection reveals that the vessel does not have an International 
Tonnage Certificate (1969) or that the main characteristics of the 
vessel differ from those stated on the certificate or other records in a 
way that increases the gross or net tonnage of the vessel, the Secretary 
promptly shall inform the country whose flag the vessel is flying.
    (c) For a vessel of a country not a party to the Convention--
        (1) if the vessel has been measured under laws and regulations 
    that the Secretary finds are similar to those of this chapter and 
    the regulations prescribed under this chapter, the vessel shall be 
    deemed to have been issued an International Tonnage Certificate 
    (1969); and
        (2) if the vessel has not been measured as described in clause 
    (1) of this subsection, the Secretary may measure the vessel.

    (d) An inspection under this section shall be conducted in a way 
that does not delay a vessel of a country that is a party to the 
Convention.

(Added Pub. L. 99-509, title V, Sec. 5101(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 
1922.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 14307
    Source: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.
    Section 14307(a) authorizes the Secretary to inspect a vessel of a 
foreign country to verify that the vessel has an International Tonnage 
Certificate and that the main characteristics of the vessel correspond 
to the information in the certificate. Section 14307(a) also authorizes 
the Secretary to inspect a vessel from a foreign country that is not a 
party to the Convention in order to verify that the vessel has been 
measured under laws and regulations similar to those of this chapter.
    Section 14307(b) requires that if the Secretary inspects a vessel of 
a country that is a party to the Convention and finds that the vessel 
does not have an International Tonnage Certificate or that the main 
characteristics of the vessel differ from those stated on the 
certificate or other records in a way that increases the gross or net 
tonnage of the vessel, the Secretary must inform the country whose flag 
the vessel is flying.
    Section 14307(c) provides that if the Secretary finds that a vessel 
of a country not a party to the Convention has been measured under laws 
and regulations similar to those of this chapter, that the vessel shall 
be deemed to have been issued an International Tonnage Certificate. It 
also provides that the Secretary may measure the vessel if the Secretary 
finds that the vessel has not been measured under laws and regulations 
similar to those of this chapter.
    Section 14307(d) provides that an inspection under this section 
shall be conducted in a way that does not delay a vessel of a country 
that is a party to the Convention.
