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Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-110

§1151 Restriction on Acquisition, Procurement, or Construction of Vessels in Foreign Shipyards

Title 14 › SUBTITLE I — ESTABLISHMENT, POWERS, DUTIES, AND ADMINISTRATION › CHAPTER 11 — ACQUISITIONS › SUBCHAPTER III — PROCUREMENT › § 1151

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commandant (the Coast Guard leader) must not lease, charter, or buy a ship if a major part of its hull or upper structure was built in a foreign shipyard. The President can allow an exception if he decides it is needed for the national security of the United States. If the President allows an exception, he must notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. No contract can be awarded until 30 days after those committees get the notice. The notice must explain the national security reason and include detailed market research showing U.S. shipyards could not meet the need.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §1151

Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), the Commandant may not lease, charter, or otherwise procure a vessel which contains a major component of the hull or superstructure constructed in a foreign shipyard.
(b)Exceptions.—
(1)In general.—
The President may authorize exceptions to the prohibition in subsection (a) when the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so.
(2)Notice.—
The President shall transmit notice to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of any such determination made by the President under paragraph (1), and no contract may be awarded pursuant to the exception authorized until the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the notice of such determination is received by such committees of Congress.
(3)Justification.—
The notice required under paragraph (2) shall include a written explanation of the national security interest and a detailed summary of market research demonstrating the lack of availability of United States shipyards to meet the Coast Guard requirements consistent with national security interest.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no Coast Guard vessel, and no major component of the hull or superstructure of a Coast Guard vessel, may be constructed in a foreign shipyard. “(b) The President may authorize exceptions to the prohibition in subsection (a) when the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so. The President shall transmit notice to Congress of any such determination, and no contract may be made pursuant to the exception authorized until the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the notice of such determination is received by Congress.” 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 665 of this title as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 1151

Title 14, Coast Guard

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110