---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 50108"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "50108"
heading: "Studies on cargo carriage and cargo containers"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/50108"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part A — General"
  - "Chapter 501 — Policy, Studies, and Reports"
---

# §50108. Studies on cargo carriage and cargo containers

- (a) **Studies.—** The Secretary of Transportation shall study—
  - (1) the methods of encouraging the development and implementation of new concepts for the carriage of cargo in the domestic and [foreign commerce](/usc/46/109.md?p=a) of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md); and
  - (2) the economic and technological aspects of the use of cargo containers as a method of carrying out the policy in [section 50101 of this title](/usc/46/50101.md).
- (b) **Restriction.—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a) and the policy in [section 50101 of this title](/usc/46/50101.md), the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) Government may not give preference as between carriers based on the length, height, or width of cargo containers or the length, height, or width of cargo container cells. This restriction applies to all existing container [vessels](/usc/46/115.md) and any container [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) to be constructed or rebuilt.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1559.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 50108 | 46 App.:1122(f). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 212(f); as added Pub. L. 90–268, § 1, Mar. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(69), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 98–237, § 20(c), Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 90. |