---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12506"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12506"
heading: "Delegation of authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12506"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 125 — Vessel Identification System"
---

# §12506. Delegation of authority


The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of Transportation may delegate to an agency, a State, or a qualified [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) the authority to—

- (1) establish and maintain the vessel identification system; and
- (2) charge fees under [section 12505 of this title](/usc/46/12505.md) to a [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) making information available to or requesting information from the vessel identification system.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4737.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 12506

This section allows the Secretary to delegate the authority to establish and maintain the vessel identification system to an agency, a State, or a qualified person. The Secretary may also delegate the authority to charge fees under section 12505 for requesting information from or making information available to the vessel identification system.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.