46 U.S.C. § 80104 — Salvaging operations by foreign vessels

(a) Prohibition. Unless this section or section 80105 allows it, a foreign vessel^* may not, under penalty of forfeiture, conduct salvage operations on the Atlantic or Pacific coasts, in the Great Lakes or connecting or tributary waters including the part of the Saint Lawrence River containing the international boundary, or in United States territorial waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

(b) When Suitable Vessel^* Not Available. The Secretary of Homeland Security may authorize a foreign vessel to salvage in a particular place if an investigation shows that the place has no suitable vessel that is owned only by United States citizens, including a Bowaters corporation under section 12118, and documented under chapter 121 or numbered under chapter 123.

(c) Operations Authorized by Treaty. This section does not prohibit or restrict assistance or salvage authorized by treaty, including article II of the 1908 United States-Great Britain treaty concerning reciprocal United States-Canada rights in prisoners, wrecking, and salvage, and the 1935 United States-Mexico treaty concerning assistance to and salvage of vessels in territorial waters.