Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Merchant Marine › Part Part C— - Financial Assistance Programs › Chapter CHAPTER 533— - CONSTRUCTION RESERVE FUNDS › § 53310
A deposit put into a construction reserve fund only qualifies if, within 3 years after the deposit (including any extensions the Secretary of Transportation allows), one of two things happens. Either a contract is made for a new vessel (or part interest, or rebuilding of a new vessel) with the Secretary’s approval, the deposit is used or promised for that contract, at least 12.5% of the vessel’s contract price is paid or firmly promised, and the Secretary approves the vessel plans as needed; or the deposit is used or promised to pay off purchase-money debt to a lender who is not the mortgagor’s parent, affiliate, or associated company. If the vessel is not built under a construction-differential-subsidy contract and was not bought from the Secretary, at least 5% of the first vessel’s construction must be finished within 6 months after the construction contract (as estimated by the Secretary and certified to the Secretary of the Treasury), and work must continue with reasonable speed after that. The Secretary of Transportation may extend the deadlines, but extensions for spending deposits cannot total more than 2 years, and extensions for reaching 5% construction cannot total more than 1 year.
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Citation
46 U.S.C. § 53310
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73