
      (a) Safety Management Plan. - Each responsible person shall
    establish and submit to the Secretary for approval a safety
    management plan describing how that person and vessels of the
    person to which this chapter applies will comply with the
    regulations prescribed under section 3203(a) of this title.
      (b) Approval. - Upon receipt of a safety management plan
    submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall review the plan
    and approve it if the Secretary determines that it is consistent
    with and will assist in implementing the safety management system
    established under section 3203.
      (c) Prohibition on Vessel Operation. - A vessel to which this
    chapter applies under section 3202(a) may not be operated without
    having on board a Safety Management Certificate and a copy of a
    Document of Compliance issued for the vessel under section 3205 of
    this title.

Last modified: April 20, 2006