---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 80503"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "80503"
heading: "General authority of the Secretary"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/80503"
units:
  - "Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 805 — Safe Containers for International Cargo"
---

# §80503. General authority of the Secretary

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of the department in which the [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) is operating shall carry out the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) and this chapter in the United States.
- (b) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall prescribe regulations to carry out this chapter. The regulations shall—
  - (1) establish procedures for testing, inspecting, and initially approving [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) and designs for [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1), including procedures for attaching, invalidating, and removing [safety approval plates](/usc/46/80501.md?p=5) for [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1);
  - (2) establish procedures to be followed by the [owners](/usc/46/80501.md?p=4) of [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) for the periodic examination of [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) as provided in the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2); and
  - (3) provide a method for developing, collecting, and disseminating information about [container](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) safety and the [international transport](/usc/46/80501.md?p=3) of [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1).
- (c) **Safety Approval Plates.—** If the [owner](/usc/46/80501.md?p=4) of a [container](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) without a [safety approval plate](/usc/46/80501.md?p=5) establishes that the [container](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) satisfies the standards of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may authorize a [safety approval plate](/usc/46/80501.md?p=5) to be attached to the [container](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1).
- (d) **Schedule of Fees.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may prescribe a schedule of fees for services performed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46), or by a person delegated authority under [section 80506 of this title](/usc/46/80506.md), for the testing, inspection, and initial approval of [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) and [container](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) designs.
- (e) **Encouraging Intermodal Transport.—** To the maximum extent possible, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall encourage the development and use of intermodal transport, using [containers](/usc/46/80501.md?p=1) built to facilitate economical, safe, and expeditious handling of containerized cargo without intermediate reloading when it is being transported over land, air, and sea areas.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1694.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 80503(a) | 46 App.:1503(a). | Pub. L. 95–208, § 4(a), (b), (c)(1), (3), (e), Dec. 13, 1977, 91 Stat. 1476, 1477. |
| 80503(b) | 46 App.:1503(b). |  |
| 80503(c) | 46 App.:1503(c)(1). |  |
| 80503(d) | 46 App.:1503(c)(3). |  |
| 80503(e) | 46 App.:1503(e). |  |

In subsection (a), the words “On and after the date the instrument of ratification is deposited by the United States in accordance with the provisions of article VII of the Convention,” and “and, unless an earlier date is specifically provided,” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (b), before paragraph (1), the words “as soon as practicable after December 13, 1977” are omitted as obsolete. The word “prescribe” is substituted for “promulgate, and from time to time, amend” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “he deems necessary for such enforcement” and “among other things” are omitted as unnecessary. In paragraph (1), the words “existing” and “new” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsections (c) and (d), the words “At any time after December 13, 1977” are omitted as obsolete.