46 CFR § 502.281 - Investigational policy.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s502.281"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 502.281 - Investigational policy."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "502.281"
section_name: "Investigational policy."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS"
part_number: "502"
part_name: "RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 504, 551, 552, 553, 556(c), 559, 561-569, 571-584; 591-596; 18 U.S.C. 207; 28 U.S.C. 2112(a); 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C., 40103-40104, 40304, 40306, 40501-40503, 40701-40706, 41101-41109, 41301-41309, 44101-44106, 46105; 5 CFR part 2635."
regulatory_source: "49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "502"
---


# 502.281 Investigational policy.

The Commission has extensive regulatory duties under the various acts it is charged with administering. The conduct of investigations is essential to the proper exercise of the Commission's regulatory duties. It is the purpose of this subpart to establish procedures for the conduct of such investigations which will insure protection of the public interest in the proper and effective administration of the law. The Commission encourages voluntary cooperation in its investigations where such can be effected without delay or without prejudice to the public interest. The Commission may, in any matter under investigation, invoke any or all of the compulsory processes authorized by law. [Rule 281.]