republic-os/legal/us/code/title-46/chapter-35/section-3508.md

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LegalText	46 U.S.C. § 3508	Crime scene preservation training for passenger vessel crewmembers	us	united_states_code	code_section	46	SHIPPING	35	CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS	3508	46 U.S.C. § 3508	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t46/s3508	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml	d2bb19fe1ddabe189297315fbe7102b359b2031ae572139e6286a1f1f6f43225	eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f	7ebe25df1498111cc7e67d0b57c572f3d8fa0a548800608e7e1d34abf697dd97	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

46 U.S.C. § 3508 - Crime scene preservation training for passenger vessel crewmembers

Text

(a) In General.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Maritime Administration, shall maintain training standards and curricula to allow for the certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crewmembers, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment. The Administrator of the Maritime Administration may certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification under subsection (c).

(b) Minimum Standards.— The standards established by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) the training and certification of vessel security personnel, crewmembers, and law enforcement officials in accordance with accepted law enforcement and security guidelines, policies, and procedures, including recommendations for incorporating a background check process for personnel trained and certified in foreign ports;

(2) the training of students and instructors in all aspects of prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment; and

(3) the provision or recognition of off-site training and certification courses in the United States and foreign countries to develop and provide the required training and certification described in subsection (a) and to enhance security awareness and security practices related to the preservation of evidence in response to crimes on board passenger vessels.

(c) Certification Requirement.— No vessel to which this section applies may enter a United States port on a voyage (or voyage segment) on which a United States citizen is a passenger unless there is at least 1 crewmember onboard who is certified as having successfully completed training in the prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment on passenger vessels under subsection (a).

(d) Civil Penalty.— Any person that violates this section or a regulation under this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $50,000.

(e) Denial of Entry.— The Secretary may deny entry into the United States to a vessel to which this section applies if the owner of the vessel—

(1) commits an act or omission for which a penalty may be imposed under subsection (d); or

(2) fails to pay a penalty imposed on the owner under subsection (d).

(Added Pub. L. 111–207, § 3(a), July 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2250; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, § 3543(b), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2324.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3543(b)(1), substituted “The Secretary” for “Within 1 year after the date of enactment of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, the Secretary” and “maintain” for “develop”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3543(b)(2), substituted “No” for “Beginning 2 years after the standards are established under subsection (b), no”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3543(b)(3), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to interim training requirement. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3543(b)(3), (4), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and substituted “subsection (d)” for “subsection (e)” in pars. (1) and (2). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3543(b)(3), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Exemptions for Certain Passenger VesselsPub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11510, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4137, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, requirements authorized under sections 3508 and 3509 of title 46, United States Code, shall not apply to any passenger vessel, as defined in section 2101 of such title— “(1) that carries in excess of 250 passengers; “(2) that is, or was, in operation exclusively within the inland rivers and internal waters of the United States on voyages inside the Boundary Line, as defined in section 103 of such title, on or before July 27, 2030; and “(3) the operators or charterers of which operated any documented vessels with a coastwise endorsement prior to January 1, 2024.”

Definitions For definition of “owner” as used in this section, see section 3507(l) of this title.