2020 US Code
Title 46 - Shipping
Subtitle VI - Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties
Chapter 601 - Arrival and Departure Requirements
Sec. 60105 - Clearance of vessels

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Citation 46 U.S.C. § 60105 (2020)
Section Name §60105. Clearance of vessels
Section Text

(a) Vessels of the United States.—Except as otherwise provided by law, a vessel of the United States shall obtain clearance from the Secretary of Homeland Security before proceeding from a port or place in the United States—

(1) for a foreign port or place;

(2) for another port or place in the United States if the vessel has on board foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or

(3) outside the territorial sea to visit a hovering vessel or to receive merchandise while outside the territorial sea.


(b) Other Vessels.—Except as otherwise provided by law, a vessel that is not a vessel of the United States shall obtain clearance from the Secretary before proceeding from a port or place in the United States—

(1) for a foreign port or place;

(2) for another port or place in the United States; or

(3) outside the territorial sea to visit a hovering vessel or to receive or deliver merchandise while outside the territorial sea.


(c) Regulations.—The Secretary may by regulation—

(1) prescribe the manner in which clearance under this section is to be obtained, including the documents, data, or information which shall be submitted or transmitted, pursuant to an authorized data interchange system, to obtain the clearance;

(2) permit clearance to be obtained before all requirements for clearance are complied with, but only if the owner or operator of the vessel files a bond in an amount set by the Secretary conditioned on the compliance by the owner or operator with all specified requirements for clearance within a time period (not exceeding 4 business days) established by the Secretary; and

(3) permit clearance to be obtained at a place other than a designated port of entry, under conditions the Secretary may prescribe.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, §9(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1675.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
60105 46 App.:91. R.S. §4197; Aug. 5, 1935, ch. 438, title II, §209, 49 Stat. 526; June 16, 1938, ch. 476, §1, 52 Stat. 758; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title V, §501(a), 68 Stat. 1140; Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, §686(b), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2221; Pub. L. 106–476, title I, §1452(a)(3), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2167.

The Secretary of Homeland Security is substituted for the Customs Service and for the Secretary of the Treasury because the functions of the Customs Service and of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto were transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 403(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–296, 116 Stat. 2178).

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 2, Title 46 - SHIPPING
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 46 - SHIPPING
Subtitle VI - Clearance, Tonnage Taxes, and Duties
CHAPTER 601 - ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 60105 - Clearance of vessels
Contains section 60105
Date 2020
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 13, 2021
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 49 Stat. 526
52 Stat. 758
68 Stat. 1140
107 Stat. 2221
114 Stat. 2167
116 Stat. 2178
120 Stat. 1675
Public Law References Public Law 103-182, Public Law 106-476, Public Law 107-296, Public Law 109-304
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