---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 80508"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "80508"
heading: "Amendments to Convention"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/80508"
units:
  - "Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 805 — Safe Containers for International Cargo"
---

# §80508. Amendments to Convention

- (a) **Proposals by United States.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, may propose amendments to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) or request a conference for amending the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) as provided in article IX of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
- (b) **Proposals by Other Countries.—** An amendment communicated to the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) under article IX(2) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) may be accepted for the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President may declare that the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) does not accept an amendment.
- (c) **Amendments to Annexes.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating—
    - (A) may propose amendments to the annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2);
    - (B) may propose a conference for amending annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2); and
    - (C) shall consider and act on amendments to the annexes to the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2) adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization and communicated to the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) under article X(2) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Action following approval or objection.—** If a proposed amendment to an annex is approved by the [United States](/usc/46/114.md), the amendment shall enter into force as provided in article X of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2). If a proposed amendment is objected to, the Secretary of State promptly shall communicate the objection as provided in article X(3) of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).
- (d) **Appointment of Arbitrator.—** The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall appoint an arbitrator when one is required to resolve a dispute within the meaning of article XIII of the [Convention](/usc/46/80501.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1697.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 80508 | 46 App.:1507. | Pub. L. 95–208, § 8, Dec. 13, 1977, 91 Stat. 1479. |