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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§57106 Maintenance, improvement, and operation of vessels

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Merchant Marine › Part Part F— - Government-Owned Merchant Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 571— - GENERAL AUTHORITY › § 57106

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can repair, recondition, remodel, and improve U.S.-owned vessels the Secretary controls so they are able to compete in foreign trade. The Secretary can also operate those ships or lease them out on whatever terms are needed to carry out this part of the law. Any ship that is rebuilt or upgraded under this rule must be registered under U.S. law and stay registered for at least 5 years after the work is finished. During those 5 years, it must sail on trips that are not only along the coast.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §57106

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may maintain, repair, recondition, remodel, and improve vessels owned by the United States Government and in the possession or under the control of the Secretary, to equip them adequately for competition in the foreign trade of the United States. The Secretary may operate such a vessel or charter the vessel on terms and conditions the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.
(b)A vessel reconditioned, remodeled, or improved under subsection (a) shall be documented under the laws of the United States and remain so documented for at least 5 years after completion of the reconditioning, remodeling, or improvement. During that period, it shall be operated on voyages that are not exclusively coastwise.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5710646 App.:871.June 5, 1920, ch. 250, § 12, 41 Stat. 993; June 6, 1924, ch. 273, § 2, 43 Stat. 468; Feb. 11, 1927, ch. 104, § 1 (last par. under heading “United States Shipping Board”), 44 Stat. 1083; Exec. Order 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(43), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 157. 46 App.:891b.May 22, 1928, ch. 675, title II, § 202, 45 Stat. 690; Exec. Order 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(51), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 157. This section is substituted for the source provisions to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary provisions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 57106

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73