§ 1502. Duties of owners of containers
(a)
Initial approval of containers; periodic examination
Beginning on the date the instrument of ratification is deposited by the United States in accordance with the provisions of article VII of the Convention, for new containers, and beginning on September 6, 1982, for existing containers, the owner of each such container—
(1)
who is domiciled and has his principal office in the United States, shall have each such container initially approved in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary or by the administration of another contracting party to the Convention; and shall, thereafter, have each such container periodically examined, as provided in the Convention, in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary; and
(2)
who is either domiciled or has his principal office in the United States, shall have each such container initially approved in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary or by the administration of another contracting party to the Convention; and shall, thereafter, have each such container periodically examined, as provided in the Convention, in accordance with the procedure established by the administration of either the country where he is domiciled or has his principal office (so long as such country is a party to the Convention).
Any owner of either a new or existing container who is neither domiciled nor maintains a principal office in the United States, or in any other country which is a party to the Convention, may submit their containers for approval and periodic examination according to the procedure established by the Secretary.