§877. Coastwise laws extended to island Territories and possessions

From and after February 1, 1922, the coastwise laws of the United States shall extend to the island Territories and possessions of the United States not covered thereby on June 5, 1920, and the Secretary of Transportation is directed prior to the expiration of such year to have established adequate steamship service at reasonable rates to accommodate the commerce and the passenger travel of said islands and to maintain and operate such service until it can be taken over and operated and maintained upon satisfactory terms by private capital and enterprise: Provided, That if adequate shipping service is not established by February 1, 1922, the President shall extend the period herein allowed for the establishment of such service in the case of any island Territory or possession for such time as may be necessary for the establishment of adequate shipping facilities therefor: And provided further, That the coastwise laws of the United States shall not extend to the Virgin Islands of the United States until the President of the United States shall, by proclamation, declare that such coastwise laws shall extend to the Virgin Islands and fix a date for the going into effect of same.

(June 5, 1920, ch. 250, §21, 41 Stat. 997 ; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, §12, eff. June 10, 1933; Apr. 16, 1936, ch. 228, 49 Stat. 1207 ; June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, §204, title IX, §904, 49 Stat. 1987 , 2016; Proc. No. 2695, eff. July 4, 1946, 11 F.R. 7517, 60 Stat. 1352; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(47), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 157 .)

Codification

Provisos of this section authorizing the government of Philippine Islands to regulate transportation between ports or places in Philippine Archipelago until Congress authorized registry of vessels owned in those islands, and providing that this section should not go into effect in Philippine Islands until after investigation and proclamation by President, omitted on authority of Proc. No. 2695 of 1946, set out under section 1394 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, which proclaimed independence of Philippines.

Amendments

1981-Pub. L. 97–31 substituted "Secretary of Transportation" for "Commission". For prior transfers of functions, see Transfer of Functions note below.

1936-Act Apr. 16, 1936, inserted last proviso.

Transfer of Functions

"Commission", meaning United States Maritime Commission, substituted in text for "board", meaning United States Shipping Board. For dissolution of Board and transfer of functions to United States Maritime Commission, see Ex. Ord. No. 6166 and act June 29, 1936. Ex. Ord. No. 6166 is set out as a note under section 901 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. For subsequent transfers of functions, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1949, Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950, and Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961, set out under section 1111 of this Appendix.

Canton Island

Proc. No. 3215, Dec. 12, 1957, 72 Stat. c19, extended period for establishment of adequate shipping service for, and deferred extension of coastwise laws to, Canton Island.