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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§50109 Miscellaneous Studies

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

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must study and keep up-to-date records on several shipping and transport matters. These include how much foreign governments support their merchant fleets; which shipping laws should also apply to airplanes in foreign trade to further section 50101 and any needed laws; whether the Secretary should be allowed, in an economic or commercial emergency, to help farmers and producers of cotton, coal, lumber, and cement ship and land goods in foreign ports by lowering rates, adding U.S. ships, or operating ships directly until help is no longer needed; how intercoastal and inland waterways link with land and air transport; reports to Congress on scrapping old U.S.-owned or merchant ships and on tramp shipping and U.S. participation; and the legal status of vessel mortgages to make loans safer and encourage investment.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §50109

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(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 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60