---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 55602"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "55602"
heading: "Cargo and shippers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/55602"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part D — Promotional Programs"
  - "Chapter 556 — Marine Highways"
---

# §55602. Cargo and shippers

- (a) **Memorandums of Agreement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall enter into memorandums of understanding with the heads of other Federal entities to transport federally owned or generated [cargo](/usc/46/53901.md?p=2) using a [marine highway transportation](/usc/46/55605.md?p=1) project designated under [section 55601](/usc/46/55601.md) when practical or available.
- (b) **Short-Term Incentives.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall consult shippers and other participants in transportation logistics and develop proposals for short-term incentives to encourage the use of [marine highway transportation](/usc/46/55605.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–140, title XI, § 1121(a), Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1761; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIII [LXXXIII], § 8332(d)(4), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4705.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “marine highway” for “short sea” in subsecs. (a) and (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.