46 U.S.C. § 80301 — International agreements

(a) General Authority. The President can make agreements with other countries that care about maritime safety, to do three things: (1) Run an ice patrol in the North Atlantic Ocean. This patrol studies ice and ocean currents, and helps ships and their crews within the patrol area. (2) Study and observe ice and current conditions in waters that affect how ice drifts in the North Atlantic. (3) Take all reasonably possible steps to destroy or remove "derelicts" — abandoned ships or wreckage floating at sea — in the northern Atlantic. This applies to the area east of a line from Cape Sable to a point at 34 degrees north latitude, 70 degrees west longitude, when removal is necessary. (b) Payment Between Countries. An agreement under (a) can include a plan for either: (1) other countries paying the United States Government their fair share of the cost of running these services; or (2) the United States Government paying its fair share, if the agreement instead has another country run the services. (c) Payments. Any money the U.S. receives under (b)(1) goes into the Coast Guard's operations and support budget.