---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 40301"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "40301"
heading: "Application"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/40301"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Regulation of Ocean Shipping"
  - "Part A — Ocean Shipping"
  - "Chapter 403 — Agreements"
---

# §40301. Application

- (a) **Ocean Common Carrier Agreements.—** This part applies to an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) between or among [ocean common carriers](/usc/46/40102.md?p=18) to—
  - (1) discuss, fix, or regulate transportation rates, including [through rates](/usc/46/40102.md?p=25), cargo space accommodations, and other conditions of service;
  - (2) pool or apportion traffic, revenues, earnings, or losses;
  - (3) allot ports or regulate the number and character of voyages between ports;
  - (4) regulate the volume or character of cargo or passenger traffic to be carried;
  - (5) engage in an exclusive, preferential, or cooperative working arrangement between themselves or with a [marine terminal operator](/usc/46/40102.md?p=15);
  - (6) control, regulate, or prevent competition in international ocean transportation; or
  - (7) discuss and agree on any matter related to a [service contract](/usc/46/40102.md?p=21).
- (b) **Marine Terminal Operator Agreements.—** This part applies to an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) between or among [marine terminal operators](/usc/46/40102.md?p=15), or between or among one or more [marine terminal operators](/usc/46/40102.md?p=15) and one or more [ocean common carriers](/usc/46/40102.md?p=18), to—
  - (1) discuss, fix, or regulate rates or other conditions of service; or
  - (2) engage in exclusive, preferential, or cooperative working arrangements, to the extent the [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) involves ocean transportation in the foreign commerce of the United States.
- (c) **Acquisitions.—** This part does not apply to an acquisition by any person, directly or indirectly, of any voting security or assets of any other person.
- (d) **Maritime Labor Agreements.—** This part does not apply to a [maritime labor agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=16). However, this subsection does not exempt from this part any rate, charge, regulation, or practice of a [common carrier](/usc/46/40102.md?p=7) that is required to be set forth in a tariff or is an essential term of a [service contract](/usc/46/40102.md?p=21), whether or not the rate, charge, regulation, or practice arises out of, or is otherwise related to, a [maritime labor agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=16).
- (e) **Assessment Agreements.—** This part (except sections [40305](/usc/46/40305.md) and [40307(a)](/usc/46/40307.md?p=a)) does not apply to an [assessment agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 7, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1528.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 40301(a) | 46 App.:1703(a). | Pub. L. 98–237, § 4, Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 70; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, § 103, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1904. |
| 40301(b) | 46 App.:1703(b). |  |
| 40301(c) | 46 App.:1703(c). |  |
| 40301(d) | 46 App.:1704(f). | Pub. L. 98–237, § 5(e) (last sentence), (f), Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 70; Pub. L. 104–88, title III, § 335(c)(2), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 954; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, § 104(a)(2), (b), Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1904, 1905. |
| 40301(e) | 46 App.:1704(e) (last sentence). |  |