§ 1434. Entry; vessels
(a)
Formal entry
Within 24 hours (or such other period of time as may be provided under subsection (c)(2) of this section) after the arrival at any port or place in the United States of—
(3)
any vessel of the United States having on board foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or
(4)
any vessel which has visited a hovering vessel or has delivered or received merchandise while outside the territorial sea;
the master of the vessel shall, unless otherwise provided by law, make formal entry at the nearest customs facility or such other place as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(b)
Preliminary entry
The Secretary may by regulation permit the master to make preliminary entry of the vessel with the Customs Service in lieu of formal entry or before formal entry is made. In permitting preliminary entry, the Customs Service shall board a sufficient number of vessels to ensure compliance with the laws it enforces.
(c)
Regulations
The Secretary may by regulation—
(1)
prescribe the manner and format in which entry under subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, or both, must be made, and such regulations may provide that any such entry may be made electronically pursuant to an electronic data interchange system;