§53501 Definitions

Summary

Defines the main words used in the chapter. An agreement vessel is a vessel covered by an agreement under this chapter, and any barge or container included in that agreement. An eligible vessel is either a ship that was built in the United States (or rebuilt there), or built abroad but U.S.-documented on April 15, 1970, or built abroad for U.S. foreign trade under a contract made before April 15, 1970, that is U.S.-documented and used in U.S. trade or fisheries; or a small commercial fishing vessel built in the U.S., at least 2 net tons but less than 5 net tons, owned by a U.S. citizen, home‑ported in the U.S., and used in U.S. commercial fishing. Joint regulations are rules written jointly by the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury. Noncontiguous trade means trade between the contiguous 48 States and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. insular territory or possession, and trade among those noncontiguous places. A qualified vessel meets the same construction and documentation tests as an eligible vessel but must also be agreed with the Secretary and the person who maintains the capital construction fund to be operated in U.S. trade or fisheries; the small fishing‑vessel rules match the eligible‑vessel test. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce for vessels in U.S. fisheries and the Secretary of Transportation for other vessels. Short sea transportation trade is moving cargo by ship that is in intermodal containers lifted by crane or loaded by wheeled technology, between U.S. ports or between U.S. ports and Canadian ports in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System. United States foreign trade includes areas where a vessel built with a construction‑differential subsidy is allowed to operate under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. Vessel also includes cargo‑handling equipment meant mainly for use on the vessel and ocean‑going towing vessels, ocean‑going barges, or similar towing vessels or barges on the Great Lakes.