46 U.S.C. § 3717 — Marine safety information system

(a) The Secretary must establish a marine safety information system that must contain information about each vessel^* to which this chapter applies that operates on the navigable waters of the United States, or that transfers oil or hazardous material in a port or place under the jurisdiction of the United States. In acquiring this information, the Secretary must make full use of publicly available information. The Secretary may by regulation require the vessel to provide information that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this subsection, including— (1) the name of each person with an ownership interest in the vessel; (2) details of compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of applicable laws or regulations; (3) registration information, including all changes in the name of the vessel; (4) the history of marine casualties and serious repair problems of the vessel; and (5) a record of all inspections and examinations of a vessel conducted under section 3714 of this title .

(b) On written request from the Secretary, the head of each department, agency^*, or instrumentality of the United States Government must provide available information that the Secretary considers necessary to confirm the information received under subsection (a) of this section.