46 U.S.C. § 70305 — Suspension of passenger services

(a) General Authority. If the President decides that a foreign country lets its territory be used as a base, training ground, or safe haven for a terrorist or terrorist group that knowingly uses hijacking of passenger vessels (or the threat of it) as a policy tool — or that the country arms, aids, or abets such a group in any way — the President may suspend the right of any passenger vessel common carrier to run service to or from a port in that country, and the right of any U.S. passenger vessel to use that port. This suspension can happen without notice or a hearing, and can last as long as the President decides is needed to protect passenger vessels from unlawful seizure. (b) Prohibition. A passenger vessel common carrier, or a U.S. passenger vessel, may not operate in violation of a suspension issued under this section. (c) Penalties. (1) Denial of entry. If someone operates a vessel in violation of this section, the Secretary may bar that person's vessels from entering U.S. ports. (2) Civil penalty. A violator owes the U.S. government a civil penalty of up to $50,000. Each day a vessel uses a banned port counts as a separate violation.