110 STAT. 3930 PUBLIC LAW 104-324—OCT. 19, 1996 91) of a vessel that is subject to this chapter under section 3202(a) of this title or to the International Safety Management Code, if the vessel does not have on board a Safety Management Certificate and a copy of a Document of Compliance for the vessel. Clearance may be granted on filing a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. —The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 31 the following: "32. Management of vessels 3201". 46 USC 3201 (c) STUDY. — note. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct, in cooperation with the owners, charterers, and managing operators of vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, and other interested persons, a study of the methods that may be used to implement and enforce the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention under chapter IX of the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. (2) REPORT. —The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report of the results of the study required under paragraph (1) before the earlier of— (A) the date that final regulations are prescribed under section 3203 of title 46, United States Code (as enacted by subsection (a); or (B) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 603. USE OF REPORTS, DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, AND EXAMINA- TIONS OF OTHER PERSONS. (a) REPORTS, DOCUMENTS, AND RECORDS.—Chapter 31 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding the following new section: "§3103. Use of reports, documents, and records "The Secretary may rely, as evidence of compliance with this subtitle, on— "(1) reports, documents, and records of other persons who have been determined by the Secretary to be reliable; and "(2) other methods the Secretary has determined to be reliable.". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. —The table of sections for chapter 31 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "3103. Use of reports, documents, and records.". (c) EXAMINATIONS.—Section 3308 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting "or have examined" after "examine". SEC. 604. EQUIPMENT APPROVAL. (a) IN GENERAL. —Section 3306(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: "(b)(1) Equipment and material subject to regulation under this section may not be used on any vessel without prior approval of the Secretary. "(2) Except with respect to use on a public vessel, the Secretary may treat an approval of equipment or materials by a foreign
�
