License requirement — Us Code Code § 40901

Us Code Code § 40901 — License requirement. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 40901. License requirement

(a) In General.—A person in the United States may not advertise, hold oneself out, or act as an ocean transportation intermediary unless the person holds an ocean transportation intermediary's license issued by the Federal Maritime Commission. The Commission shall issue a license to a person that the Commission determines to be qualified by experience and character to act as an ocean transportation intermediary.

(b) Exception.—A person whose primary business is the sale of merchandise may forward shipments of the merchandise for its own account without an ocean transportation intermediary's license.

(c) Applicability.—Subsection (a) and section 40902 do not apply to a person that performs ocean transportation intermediary services on behalf of an ocean transportation intermediary for which it is a disclosed agent.

(Pub. L. 109–304, §7, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1538; Pub. L. 115–282, title VII, §707(a), (b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4295.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
40901(a) 46 App.:1718(a). Pub. L. 98–237, §19(a), (d), Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 87, 88; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, §116, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1912.
40901(b) 46 App.:1718(d).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–282, §707(a), inserted "advertise, hold oneself out, or" after "may not".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–282, §707(b), added subsec. (c).

About This Section

46 U.S.C. § 40901 is part of Title 46 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 46 U.S.C. § 40901. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

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