Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§50105 Studies and cooperation relating to the construction of vessels

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Merchant Marine › Part Part A— - General › Chapter CHAPTER 501— - POLICY, STUDIES, AND REPORTS › § 50105

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must keep records on costs to build comparable vessels in the United States and abroad, and on new designs, construction methods, equipment, and the rules and rating systems used. The Secretary must work with owners and builders to plan economical ships and propulsion, consider standard production and all propulsion options, and study building express-liner or super-liner vessels with U.S. Government help for national emergencies and transoceanic aircraft service.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §50105

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(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of—
(1)the relative cost of construction of comparable vessels in the United States and in foreign countries; and
(2)new designs, new methods of construction, and new types of equipment for vessels.
(b)The Secretary shall examine the rules under which vessels are constructed abroad and in the United States and the methods of classifying and rating the vessels.
(c)The Secretary shall collaborate with vessel owners and shipbuilders in developing plans for the economical construction of vessels and their propelling machinery, of most modern economical types, giving thorough consideration to all well-recognized means of propulsion and taking into account the benefits from standardized production where practicable and desirable.
(d)The Secretary shall study and cooperate with vessel owners in devising means by which there may be constructed, by or with the aid of the United States Government, express-liner or super-liner vessels comparable to those of other nations, especially with a view to their use in a national emergency, and the use of transoceanic aircraft service in connection with or in lieu of those vessels.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 50105(a)(1)46 App.:811 (1st sentence words before 1st comma).Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 451, § 12 (1st sentence words before 1st comma, 2d sentence words before 2d comma), 39 Stat. 732; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 12, eff. June 10, 1933; June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 204, title IX, § 904, 49 Stat. 1987, 2016; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(27), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 155. 46 App.:1121(d).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 211(d), (j) (words before 1st semicolon), 49 Stat. 1989; Pub. L. 91–469, §§ 4(2), 35(a), Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1018, 1035; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(67), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159. 50105(a)(2)46 App.:1121(j) (words before 1st semicolon). 50105(b)46 App.:811 (2d sentence words before 2d comma). 50105(c)46 App.:1122(c).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 212(b)(2), (c), 49 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(69), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159. 50105(d)46 App.:1122(b)(2).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 50105

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73