1. (a) General authority The Secretary may take actions described in subsection (b) of this section to prevent or respond to an act of terrorism against—

   1. (1) an individual, vessel, or public or commercial structure, that is—

      1. (A) subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and
      2. (B) located within or adjacent to the marine environment; or
   2. (2) a vessel of the United States or an individual on board that vessel.

2. (b) Specific authority Under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may—

   1. (1) carry out or require measures, including inspections, port and harbor patrols, the establishment of security and safety zones, and the development of contingency plans and procedures, to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism;
   2. (2) recruit members of the Regular Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve and train members of the Regular Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve in the techniques of preventing and responding to acts of terrorism; and
   3. (3) dispatch properly trained and qualified armed Coast Guard personnel on vessels and public or commercial structures on or adjacent to waters subject to United States jurisdiction to deter or respond to acts of terrorism or transportation security incidents, as defined in section 70101 of title 46.
3. (c) Nondisclosure of port security plans Notwithstanding any other provision of law, information related to security plans, procedures, or programs for passenger vessels or passenger terminals authorized under this chapter is not required to be disclosed to the public.

(Pub. L. 92–340, § 7, as added Pub. L. 99–399, title IX, § 906, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 890; amended Pub. L. 104–324, title III, § 302, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3917; Pub. L. 107–295, title I, § 107(a), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2088.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1226, Pub. L. 92–340, § 7, formerly title I, § 106, July 10, 1972, 86 Stat. 427; renumbered § 7 and amended Pub. L. 95–474, § 2, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1475, related to requirement respecting federally licensed pilots on any foreign or domestic self-propelled vessel engaged in the foreign trade when operating in the navigable waters of the United States in areas, etc., where a pilot is not otherwise required by State law, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 98–557, § 29(g), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2875.

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 107–295 added par. (3).

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–324 added subsec. (c).

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Report on Use of Non-Coast Guard Personnel

Pub. L. 107–295, title I, § 107(b), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2088, provided that:

“The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall evaluate and report to the Congress on—

1. “(1) the potential use of Federal, State, or local government personnel, and documented United States Merchant Marine personnel, to supplement Coast Guard personnel under section 7(b)(3) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1226(b)(3));
2. “(2) the possibility of using personnel other than Coast Guard personnel to carry out Coast Guard personnel functions under that section and whether additional legal authority would be necessary to use such personnel for such functions; and
3. “(3) the possibility of utilizing the United States Merchant Marine Academy, State maritime academies, or Coast Guard approved maritime industry schools in the United States, to provide training under that section.”