---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3803"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3803"
heading: "Administration and enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3803"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Clean Hulls"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3803. Administration and enforcement

- (a) **In general—** Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, with respect to a [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12), the [Secretary](/usc/33/3801.md?p=10) shall administer and enforce the [Convention](/usc/33/3801.md?p=3) and this chapter.
- (b) **Administrator—** Except with respect to [section 3841(b)](/usc/33/3841.md?p=b) and (c) of this title, the [Administrator](/usc/33/3801.md?p=1) shall administer and enforce subchapter III.
- (c) **Regulations—** The [Administrator](/usc/33/3801.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/33/3801.md?p=10) may each prescribe and enforce regulations as may be necessary to carry out their respective responsibilities under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–281, title X, § 1013, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3025.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this title”, meaning title X of Pub. L. 111–281, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3023, which enacted this chapter and repealed chapter 37 (§ 2401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of title X to the Code, see Tables.