---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 4303"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "4303"
heading: "Inspection and testing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/4303"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 43 — Recreational Vessels"
---

# §4303. Inspection and testing

- (a) Subject to regulations, supervision, and reviews that the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may prescribe, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may delegate to a [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3), private or public agency, or organization, or to an officer or employee under the supervision of that [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) or agency, any work, business, or function related to the testing, inspection, and examination necessary for compliance enforcement and for the development of data to enable the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) to prescribe regulations under [section 4302 of this title](/usc/46/4302.md).
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may—
  - (1) conduct research, testing, and development necessary to carry out this chapter, including the procurement by negotiation or otherwise of experimental and other [recreational vessels](/usc/46/2101.md?p=36) or associated equipment for research and testing purposes; and
  - (2) subsequently sell those vessels.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 531.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 4303 | 46:1457 |

Section 4303 authorizes the Secretary to delegate to certain persons or agencies or organizations any work, business, or function related to the testing, inspection, and examination necessary for compliance enforcement. The Secretary may also conduct research, testing, and development necessary to carry out this chapter, including procurement of vessels and equipment and their subsequent sale. The Committee wishes to make clear that the Secretary may sell anything that was purchased to test.