---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 26"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "26"
heading: "Duties of commanders of warships"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/26"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — Submarine Cables"
---

# §26. Duties of commanders of warships


For the purpose of carrying into effect the [convention](/usc/47/30.md) described in [section 30 of this title](/usc/47/30.md) a [person](/usc/47/30.md) commanding a ship of war of the [United States](/usc/47/38.md) or of any foreign [state](/usc/47/251a.md?p=c-4) for the time being bound by the [convention](/usc/47/30.md), or a ship specially commissioned by the Government of the [United States](/usc/47/38.md) or by the government of such foreign [state](/usc/47/251a.md?p=c-4), may exercise and perform the duties with respect to requiring exhibition of documents evidencing the nationality of offending [vessels](/usc/47/30.md) and making reports of infractions vested in and imposed on such officer by the [convention](/usc/47/30.md).


## Source credit

(Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, § 6, 25 Stat. 42.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

The original enactment of this section did not contain the words, “with respect to requiring exhibition of documents evidencing the nationality of offending vessels and making reports of infractions,” which are inserted in view of the powers conferred on commanders of vessels of war contained in article 10 of the Convention, 24 Stat. 996, set out as a note under section 27 of this title.