The U.S. Shipping Act, was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on March 20, 1984.[1][2] The purpose of the Act was to: (1) establish a nondiscriminatory regulatory process for the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the United States with a minimum of government intervention and regulatory costs; (2) provide an efficient and economic transportation system in the ocean commerce of the United States that is, insofar as possible, in harmony with, and responsive to, international shipping practices; (3) encourage the development of an economically sound and efficient liner fleet of vessels of the United States capable of meeting national security needs; and (4) promote the growth and development of United States exports through competitive and efficient ocean transportation and by placing a greater reliance on the marketplace.[3]

Shipping Act of 1984
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to improve the international ocean commerce transportation system of the United States.
NicknamesShipping Act of 1983
Enacted bythe 98th United States Congress
EffectiveMarch 20, 1984
Citations
Public law98-237
Statutes at Large98 Stat. 67
Codification
Titles amended46 U.S.C.: Shipping
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the Senate as S. 47 by Slade Gorton (RWA) on January 26, 1983
  • Committee consideration by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Passed the Senate on March 1, 1983 (64-33)
  • Passed the House on October 17, 1983 (Passed voice vote)
  • Reported by the joint conference committee on February 22, 1984; agreed to by the Senate on February 23, 1984 (74-12) and by the House on March 6, 1984 (Agreed voice vote)
  • Signed into law by President Ronald W. Reagan on March 20, 1984

Amendment to 1984 Act edit

The Shipping Act was amended with the enactment of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998.[4] The 105th United States Congress passed Senate bill 414 being enacted into law by Bill Clinton on October 14, 1998.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C.A. §§ 1701-1720 (West Supp. 1985)
  2. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (April 13, 1984). "Proclamation 5179 — National Maritime Day, 1984 - April 13, 1984". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. p. 524.
  3. ^ Pub. L. 109–304, § 7, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1523.
  4. ^ "Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 ~ P.L. 105-258" (PDF). 112 Stat. 1902 ~ Senate Bill 414. U.S. Government Printing Office. October 14, 1998.
  5. ^ S. 414 - Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 at Congress.gov