Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§50109 Miscellaneous studies

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Merchant Marine › Part Part A— - General › Chapter CHAPTER 501— - POLICY, STUDIES, AND REPORTS › § 50109

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must investigate, decide, and keep up-to-date records about several shipping topics. These include how foreign governments help their merchant fleets, which shipping laws should also apply to airplanes flying in foreign trade to support the policy in this title, and whether the Secretary should be allowed, in an economic or commercial emergency, to help farmers and producers of cotton, coal, lumber, and cement by cutting rates, supplying extra ships to U.S. operators, or running ships directly until the aid is no longer needed. The Secretary must also study intercoastal and inland water transportation and how they link with land and air transport. The Secretary must report to Congress on scrapping or removing old government-owned merchant ships and on tramp shipping and U.S. citizen participation in it. Finally, the Secretary must review how vessel mortgage loans are treated to find ways to make those loans safer and attract investment in American shipping.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §50109

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(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the extent and character of the governmental aid and subsidies granted by foreign governments to their merchant marine.
(b)The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the provisions of law relating to shipping that should be made applicable to aircraft engaged in foreign commerce to further the policy in section 50101 of this title, and any appropriate legislation in this regard.
(c)The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the advisability of enactment of suitable legislation authorizing the Secretary, in an economic or commercial emergency, to aid farmers and producers of cotton, coal, lumber, and cement in any section of the United States in the transportation and landing of their products in any foreign port, which products can be carried in dry-cargo vessels by reducing rates, by supplying additional tonnage to any American operator, or by operation of vessels directly by the Secretary, until the Secretary considers the special rate reduction and operation unnecessary for the benefit of those farmers and producers.
(d)The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of intercoastal and inland water transportation, including their relation to transportation by land and air.
(e)The Secretary shall make studies and reports to Congress on—
(1)the scrapping or removal from service of old or obsolete merchant tonnage owned by the United States Government or in use in the merchant marine; and
(2)tramp shipping service and the advisability of citizens of the United States participating in that service with vessels under United States registry.
(f)The Secretary shall investigate the legal status of mortgage loans on vessel property, with a view to the means of improving the security of those loans and of encouraging investment in American shipping.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 50109(a)46 App.:1121(f).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 211(f), (h), (i), (j) (words after 2d 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. 50109(b)46 App.:1121(h). 50109(c)46 App.:1121(i). 50109(d)46 App.:1121(j) (words after 2d semicolon). 50109(e)46 App.:1123.June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 213, 49 Stat. 1991; Pub. L. 87–877, § 2(c), (d), Oct. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 1201; Pub. L. 94–273, § 27, Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(71), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXVI, § 3602, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2075. 50109(f)46 App.:811 (4th sentence).Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 451, § 12 (4th sentence), 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 50109

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73