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.