---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3855"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3855"
heading: "Warnings, detentions, dismissals, exclusion"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3855"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Clean Hulls"
  - "Subchapter IV — Action on Violation, Penalties, and Referrals"
---

# §3855. Warnings, detentions, dismissals, exclusion

- (a) **In general—** If a [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) is detected to be in violation of the [Convention](/usc/33/3801.md?p=3), this chapter, or any regulation prescribed under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/33/3801.md?p=10) may warn, detain, dismiss, or exclude the [vessel](/usc/33/3801.md?p=12) from any port or offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/33/3801.md?p=14).
- (b) **Notifications—** If action is taken under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/33/3801.md?p=10), in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall make the notifications required by the [Convention](/usc/33/3801.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–281, title X, § 1045, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3031.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), 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 L. 111–281, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3023, which enacted this chapter and repealed chapter 37 (§ 2401 et seq.)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.