46 U.S.C. § 80504 — Approval and examination

(a) Domicile and Principal Office in United States. If a container owner is both domiciled and has its main office in the United States, the container must be: (1) initially approved, under procedures set by the Secretary of the department running the Coast Guard, or by another Convention country's government; and (2) periodically examined, as the Convention requires, under procedures the Secretary sets. (b) Domicile or Principal Office in United States. If the owner is domiciled in the United States or has its main office here (but not necessarily both), the container must be: (1) initially approved, under procedures the Secretary sets or another Convention country's government sets; and (2) periodically examined, as the Convention requires, under procedures set by the government of whichever country the owner is domiciled in or has its main office in — as long as that country is a Convention party. (c) Neither Domicile Nor Principal Office in United States. If the owner is domiciled and has its main office outside both the United States and any other Convention country, the owner can still submit the container for initial approval and periodic examination under procedures the Secretary sets.