46 U.S.C. § 80506 — Delegation of authority

(a) In General. The Secretary of the department running the Coast Guard may delegate to any person — including a public or private agency, or a nonprofit — the authority to give initial approval to containers and designs, and to attach safety approval plates. (b) Regulations. Before delegating this authority, the Secretary must write regulations covering: (1) the criteria for choosing who gets the delegated authority; (2) a detailed description of the delegate's duties and powers, including what records they must keep; and (3) how the Secretary will review whether the delegate is carrying out those duties and powers properly. (c) Inspection of Records. A delegate must make its required records available to the Secretary for inspection, on request. (d) Penalties and Orders. A delegate may not: (1) assess or collect, or try to assess or collect, a penalty for violating the Convention, this chapter, or a Secretary's order under this chapter; or (2) issue, or try to issue, a detention or other order. (e) Publication. The Secretary must publish in the Federal Register or another appropriate publication: (1) the name and address of each delegate; (2) the duties and powers delegated; and (3) how long the delegation lasts. (f) Revocation. The Secretary may revoke a delegation of authority at any time.