---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 80508"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "80508"
heading: "Amendments to Convention"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/80508"
units:
  - "Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 805 — Safe Containers for International Cargo"
---

# §80508. Amendments to Convention

- (a) **Proposals by United States.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of the department in which the [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) is operating, may propose amendments to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) or request a conference for amending the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) as provided in article IX of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
- (b) **Proposals by Other Countries.—** An amendment communicated to the United States under article IX(2) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) may be accepted for the United States by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President may declare that the United States does not accept an amendment.
- (c) **Amendments to Annexes.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of the department in which the [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) is operating—
    - (A) may propose amendments to the annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2);
    - (B) may propose a conference for amending annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2); and
    - (C) shall consider and act on amendments to the annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization and communicated to the United States under article X(2) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Action following approval or objection.—** If a proposed amendment to an annex is approved by the United States, the amendment shall enter into force as provided in article X of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2). If a proposed amendment is objected to, the Secretary of State promptly shall communicate the objection as provided in article X(3) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
- (d) **Appointment of Arbitrator.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of 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 appoint an arbitrator when one is required to resolve a dispute within the meaning of article XIII of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1697.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 80508 | 46 App.:1507. | Pub. L. 95–208, § 8, Dec. 13, 1977, 91 Stat. 1479. |