U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 1504. Areas of enforcement

(a) Examination of containers; detention orders; restriction or removal of containers from service

(1) 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, to ensure compliance with this chapter, and with the Convention, the Secretary may—

(A) examine, or require to be examined, new containers, and existing containers which are subject to this chapter, in international transport, and test, inspect, and approve designs for new containers and new containers being manufactured;

(B) issue a detention order removing or excluding a container from service until the owner of the container establishes to the Secretary’s satisfaction that the container meets the standards of the Convention, if the container is subject to this chapter and does not have a valid safety approval plate attached to it, or if there is significant evidence that such a container bearing a safety approval plate is in a condition which creates an obvious risk to safety; and

(C) take whatever other appropriate action he deems necessary, including issuance of any necessary orders, to remove the container involved from service, or restrict its use, in those instances where he finds that a container is not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter or the Convention but does not present an obvious risk to safety.

The Secretary may permit the movement to another location of a container which he finds to be unsafe or which does not have a valid safety approval plate affixed to it, under whatever restriction he considers necessary and consistent with the intent of the Convention, for repair or other appropriate disposition.

(2) Beginning on January 1, 1985, the Secretary may examine or require to be examined any existing container in international transport.

(b) Costs of examinations

The owner of the container involved in any action taken by the Secretary under this section with respect to an examination of a container, shall pay for or reimburse the Secretary for expenses arising from such actions, except for the costs of routine examinations of containers or safety approval plates. In addition, the owner of containers submitted to the procedure established by the Secretary for testing, inspection, and initial approval, and the manufacturers who submit designs of containers to the procedures established by the Secretary for testing, inspection, and initial approval shall pay for or reimburse the Secretary for the expenses arising from such testing, inspection or approval. Funds received by the Secretary in reimbursement shall be credited to the appropriations bearing the cost thereof.

A container bearing a safety approval plate authorized by a country which is a party to the Convention shall be presumed to be in a safe condition unless there is significant evidence that the container creates an obvious risk to safety.

(d) Notification of detention or other order; duration of order

Whenever the Secretary issues a detention or other order under this section, he shall promptly notify, in writing, either the owner of the container subject to such order, his agent, or, when the identity of such owner is not apparent from the container of ^[1] shipping documents, the custodian. The notification shall reasonably identify the container involved, give the location of the container, and reasonably describe the condition or situation which gave rise to the order. An order issued by the Secretary under this section shall remain in effect until the container is declared by the Secretary, or under regulations promulgated by the Secretary, to be in compliance with the standards of the Convention, or until it is permanently removed from service, whichever first occurs.

(e) Notification to foreign country of defect at time of approval

If there is reason to believe that a container to which there is affixed a safety approval plate issued by a foreign country was defective at the time of approval, the Secretary shall notify the country which issued the approval of such defect.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “or”.

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