---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 945"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "945"
heading: "Container Security Initiative"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/945"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter II — Security of the International Supply Chain"
  - "Part A — General Provisions"
---

# §945. Container Security Initiative

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), shall establish and implement a program (referred to in this section as the “[Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative” or “CSI”) to identify and examine or [search](/usc/6/901.md?p=14) maritime [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) that pose a security risk before loading such [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) in a foreign port for shipment to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), either directly or through a foreign port.
- (b) **Assessment—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), may designate foreign seaports to participate in the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative after the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) has assessed the costs, benefits, and other factors associated with such designation, including—
  - (1) the level of risk for the potential compromise of [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) by terrorists, or other threats as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15);
  - (2) the volume of cargo being imported to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) directly from, or being transshipped through, the foreign seaport;
  - (3) the results of the Coast Guard assessments conducted pursuant to [section 70108 of title 46](/usc/46/70108.md);
  - (4) the commitment of the government of the country in which the foreign seaport is located to cooperating with the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) in sharing critical data and risk management information and to maintain programs to ensure employee integrity; and
  - (5) the potential for validation of security practices at the foreign seaport by the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7).
- (c) **Notification—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall notify the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/901.md?p=1) of the designation of a foreign port under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative or the revocation of such a designation before notifying the public of such designation or revocation.
- (d) **Negotiations—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in cooperation with the Secretary of State and in consultation with the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) Trade Representative, may enter into negotiations with the government of each foreign nation in which a seaport is designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative to ensure full compliance with the requirements under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative.
- (e) **Overseas inspections—**
  - (1) **Requirements and procedures—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall—
    - (A) establish minimum technical capability criteria and standard operating procedures for the use of nonintrusive [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) and nuclear and radiological detection systems in conjunction with CSI;
    - (B) require each port designated under CSI to operate nonintrusive [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) and nuclear and radiological detection systems in accordance with the technical capability criteria and standard operating procedures established under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A);
    - (C) continually monitor the technologies, processes, and techniques used to inspect cargo at ports designated under CSI to ensure adherence to such criteria and the use of such procedures; and
    - (D) consult with the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy in establishing the minimum technical capability criteria and standard operating procedures established under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) pertaining to radiation detection technologies to promote consistency in detection systems at foreign ports designated under CSI.
  - (2) **Constraints—** The criteria and procedures established under [paragraph (1)(A)](#e-1-A)—
    - (A) shall be consistent, as practicable, with relevant standards and procedures utilized by other Federal [departments](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) or [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), or developed by international bodies if the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) consents to such standards and procedures;
    - (B) shall not apply to activities conducted under the Megaports Initiative of the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy; and
    - (C) shall not be designed to endorse the product or technology of any specific company or to conflict with the sovereignty of a country in which a foreign seaport designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative is located.
- (f) **Savings provision—** The authority of the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) under this section shall not affect any authority or duplicate any efforts or responsibilities of the Federal Government with respect to the deployment of [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11) outside of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (g) **Coordination—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall—
  - (1) coordinate with the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy, as necessary, to provide [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11) required to support the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative through the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy’s Second Line of Defense Program and Megaports Initiative; or
  - (2) work with the private sector or host governments, when possible, to obtain [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11) that meets the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7)’s and the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy’s technical specifications for such equipment.
- (h) **Staffing—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall develop a human capital management plan to determine adequate staffing levels in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) and in foreign seaports including, as appropriate, the remote location of [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in countries in which foreign seaports are designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative.
- (i) **Annual discussions—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in coordination with the appropriate Federal officials, shall hold annual discussions with foreign governments of countries in which foreign seaports designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative are located regarding best practices, technical assistance, training needs, and technological developments that will assist in ensuring the efficient and secure movement of international cargo.
- (j) **Lesser risk port—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), may treat cargo loaded in a foreign seaport designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative as presenting a lesser risk than similar cargo loaded in a foreign seaport that is not designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative, for the purpose of clearing such cargo into the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (k) **Prohibition—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall issue a “do not load” order, using existing authorities, to prevent the onload of any cargo loaded at a port designated under CSI that has been identified as high risk, including by the Automated Targeting System, unless the cargo is determined to no longer be high risk through—
    - (A) a [scan](/usc/6/901.md?p=12) of the cargo with nonintrusive imaging equipment and [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11);
    - (B) a [search](/usc/6/901.md?p=14) of the cargo; or
    - (C) additional information received by the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the ability of the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) to deny entry of any cargo into the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (l) **Report—** Not later than 270 days after October 5, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), acting through the [Commissioner](/usc/6/901.md?p=4), shall, in consultation with other appropriate government officials and the [Commercial Operations Advisory Committee](/usc/6/901.md?p=2), submit a report to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/901.md?p=1) on the effectiveness of, and the need for any improvements to, the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative. The report shall include—
  - (1) a description of the technical assistance delivered to, as well as needed at, each designated seaport;
  - (2) a description of the human capital management plan at each designated seaport;
  - (3) a summary of the requests made by the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) to foreign governments to conduct physical or nonintrusive [inspections](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) of cargo at designated seaports, and whether each such request was granted or denied by the foreign government;
  - (4) an assessment of the effectiveness of [screening](/usc/6/901.md?p=13), scanning, and [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) protocols and technologies utilized at designated seaports and the effect on the flow of commerce at such seaports, as well as any recommendations for improving the effectiveness of [screening](/usc/6/901.md?p=13), scanning, and [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) protocols and technologies utilized at designated seaports;
  - (5) a description and assessment of the outcome of any security [incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) involving a foreign seaport designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative;
  - (6) the rationale for the continuance of each port designated under CSI;
  - (7) a description of the potential for remote targeting to decrease the number of [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) who are deployed at foreign ports under CSI; and
  - (8) a summary and assessment of the aggregate number and extent of trade compliance lapses at each seaport designated under the [Container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) Security Initiative.
- (m) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) Customs and Border Protection to carry out the provisions of this section—
  - (1) $144,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (2) $146,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
  - (3) $153,300,000 for fiscal year 2010.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title II, § 205, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1906; Pub. L. 115–254, div. J, § 1812, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3539.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 115–254 struck out par. (1) designation and heading, substituted “Not later than 270 days after October 5, 2018,” for “Not later than September 30, 2007,” in introductory provisions, redesignated subpars. (A) to (H) of former par. (1) as pars. (1) to (8), respectively, and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text of par. (2) read as follows: “Not later than September 30, 2010, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall, in consultation with other appropriate government officials and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, submit an updated report to the appropriate congressional committees on the effectiveness of, and the need for any improvements to, the Container Security Initiative. The updated report shall address each of the elements required to be included in the report provided for under paragraph (1).”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### International Port and Facility Inspection Coordination

Pub. L. 111–281, title VIII, § 825, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3004, as amended by Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 320, Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 66, provided that: Coordination.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, to the extent practicable, conduct the assessments required by the following provisions of law concurrently, or develop a process by which the assessments are coordinated between the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection: Section 205 of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 945). Section 213 of that Act (6 U.S.C. 964 [963]). Section 70108 of title 46, United States Code. Limitation.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to affect or diminish the Secretary’s authority or discretion— to conduct an assessment of a foreign port at any time; to compel the Secretary to conduct an assessment of a foreign port so as to ensure that 2 or more assessments are conducted concurrently; or to cancel an assessment of a foreign port if the Secretary is unable to conduct 2 or more assessments concurrently. Multiple Assessment Report.—The Secretary shall provide written notice to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives whenever the Secretary conducts 2 or more assessments of the same port within a 3-year period.”