---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3204"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "3204"
heading: "Implementation of safety management system"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3204"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 32 — Management of Vessels"
---

# §3204. Implementation of safety management system

- (a) **Safety Management Plan.—** Each [responsible person](/usc/46/3201.md?p=2) shall establish and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) for approval a safety management plan describing how that [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) and vessels of the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) to which this chapter applies will comply with the regulations prescribed under [section 3203(a) of this title](/usc/46/3203.md?p=a).
- (b) **Approval.—** Upon receipt of a safety management plan submitted under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall review the plan and approve it if the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) determines that it is consistent with and will assist in implementing the safety management system established under section 3203.
- (c) **Prohibition on Vessel Operation.—** A vessel to which this chapter applies under [section 3202(a)](/usc/46/3202.md?p=a) may not be operated without having on board a Safety Management Certificate and a copy of a Document of Compliance issued for the vessel under [section 3205 of this title](/usc/46/3205.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–324, title VI, § 602(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3929.)