§1701. Declaration of policy

The purposes of this chapter are-

(1) to establish a nondiscriminatory regulatory process for the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the United States with a minimum of government intervention and regulatory costs;

(2) to provide an efficient and economic transportation system in the ocean commerce of the United States that is, insofar as possible, in harmony with, and responsive to, international shipping practices;

(3) to encourage the development of an economically sound and efficient United States-flag liner fleet capable of meeting national security needs; and

(4) to promote the growth and development of United States exports through competitive and efficient ocean transportation and by placing a greater reliance on the marketplace.

( Pub. L. 98–237, §2, Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 67 ; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, §101, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1902 .)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act" meaning Pub. L. 98–237, Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 67 , as amended, known as the Shipping Act of 1984. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Amendments

1998-Par. (4). Pub. L. 105–258 added par. (4).

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–258, §2, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1902 , provided that: "Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act [see Tables for classification], this Act and the amendments made by this Act take effect May 1, 1999."

Effective Date

Section 21 of Pub. L. 98–237, which provided that Pub. L. 98–237 (see Short Title note below) shall become effective 90 days after Mar. 20, 1984, except that sections 1716 and 1717 of this Appendix shall become effective Mar. 20, 1984, was repealed by Pub. L. 101–225, title III, §307(11), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1925 .

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–258, §1, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1902 , provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998'."

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–251, title II, §201(a), Mar. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 60 , provided that: "This section [amending sections 1709 and 1721 of this Appendix and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1709 and 1721 of this Appendix] may be cited as the 'Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Act of 1991'."

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–595, title VII, §710(a), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2996 , provided that: "This section [enacting section 1721 of this Appendix, amending section 1709 of this Appendix, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1709 and 1721 of this Appendix] may be cited as the 'Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Amendments of 1990'."

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–418, title X, §10001, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1570 , provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle A (§§10001–10003) of title X of Pub. L. 100–418, enacting section 1710a of this Appendix, amending section 1122b of this Appendix, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3302 of Title 46, Shipping] may be cited as the 'Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988'."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 98–237 provided: "That this Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 801, 812, 814, 815, 816, 817, 819, 820, 821, 824, 828, 829, 830, 831, 841c, 1122, and 1124 of this Appendix, repealing sections 813, 813a, 825, and 841b of this Appendix, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 801 of this Appendix] may be cited as the 'Shipping Act of 1984'."