46 U.S.C. § 70121

Withholding of clearance

(a) Refusal or Revocation of Clearance.—

If any owner, agent, master, officer, or person in charge of a vessel is liable for a penalty under section 70119, or if reasonable cause exists to believe that the owner, agent, master, officer, or person in charge may be subject to a penalty under section 70119, the Secretary may, with respect to such vessel, refuse or revoke any clearance required by section 60105 of this title .

(b) Clearance Upon Filing of Bond or Other Surety.—

The Secretary may require the filing of a bond or other surety as a condition of granting clearance refused or revoked under this subsection.

(Added Pub. L. 108–293, title VIII, § 802(a)(2) , Aug. 9, 2004 , 118 Stat. 1079 , § 70118; renumbered § 70121 and amended Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 901 ( l )(2), (4), July 11, 2006 , 120 Stat. 565 ; Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(33)(B) , (D), Oct. 6, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1705 ; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3529(c)(1) , Jan. 28, 2008 , 122 Stat. 603 .)