
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: 46USC3303]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part B--Inspection and Regulation of Vessels
 
                    CHAPTER 33--INSPECTION GENERALLY
 
Sec. 3303. Reciprocity for foreign vessels

    Except as provided in chapter 37 of this title, a foreign vessel of 
a country having inspection laws and standards similar to those of the 
United States and that has an unexpired certificate of inspection issued 
by proper authority of its respective country, is subject to an 
inspection to ensure that the condition of the vessel is as stated in 
its current certificate of inspection. A foreign country is considered 
to have inspection laws and standards similar to those of the United 
States when it is a party to an International Convention for Safety of 
Life at Sea to which the United States Government is currently a party. 
A foreign certificate of inspection may be accepted as evidence of 
lawful inspection only when presented by a vessel of a country that has 
by its laws accorded to vessels of the United States visiting that 
country the same privileges accorded to vessels of that country visiting 
the United States.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 512; Pub. L. 102-587, title V, 
Sec. 5210(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5076; Pub. L. 104-324, title XI, 
Sec. 1111, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3970.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3303..............................  46:362(a)
                                    46:390c
                                    46:391a(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 3303 acknowledges the international concept of comity with 
respect to recognizing inspection laws and standards for foreign flag 
vessels that are similar to those of the United States. If a foreign 
nation is signatory to the International Convention for Safety of Life 
at Sea, it is presumed to have similar standards. However, reciprocity 
requirements for foreign flag tank vessels are included in chapter 37. 
Subsection (b) provides for a mutual waiver of fees for the inspection 
of foreign vessels carrying passengers from the United States.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-324 struck out subsec. (a) designation and subsec. 
(b) which read as follows: ``The Secretary shall collect and pay to the 
Treasury the same fees for the inspection of foreign vessels carrying 
passengers from the United States that a foreign country charges vessels 
of the United States trading to the ports of that country. The Secretary 
may waive at any time the collection of the fees on notice of the proper 
authorities of any country concerned that the collection of fees for the 
inspection of vessels of the United States has been discontinued.''
    1992--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-587, in first sentence, struck out 
``only'' after ``is subject'' and substituted ``the condition of the 
vessel is'' for ``the condition of the vessel's propulsion equipment and 
lifesaving equipment are''.


           International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea

    For International Conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea to which 
the United States has been a party, see section 1602 of Title 33, 
Navigation and Navigable Waters, and notes thereunder.

                    Contiguous Zone of United States

    For extension of contiguous zone of United States, see Proc. No. 
7219, Sept. 2, 1999, 64 F.R. 48701, set out as a note under section 1331 
of Title 43, Public Lands.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 3505 of this title.
