46 USC § 70002 - Special powers

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s70002"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 70002 - Special powers"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "70002"
section_name: "Special powers"
chapter_number: 700
chapter_name: "PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "VESSEL OPERATIONS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, § 401(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4255; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8508(2)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4755.)"
---


# § 70002. Special powers

The Secretary may order any vessel, in a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or in the navigable waters of the United States, to operate or anchor in a manner the Secretary directs if—

**(1)** the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe such vessel does not comply with any regulation issued under section 70034 or any other applicable law or treaty;

**(2)** the Secretary determines such vessel does not satisfy the conditions for port entry set forth in section 70021 or 70022 of this title; or

**(3)** by reason of weather, visibility, sea conditions, port congestion, other hazardous circumstances, or the condition of such vessel, the Secretary is satisfied such direction is justified in the interest of safety.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, § 401(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4255; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8508(2)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4755.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Par. (2).  inserted “or 70022” after “section 70021”.