Title 46 › Subtitle V — Merchant Marine › Part B — Merchant Marine Service › CHAPTER 515 — STATE MARITIME ACADEMY SUPPORT PROGRAM › § 51504
A Governor can ask the Secretary of Transportation in writing to give a State maritime academy a training ship. Any ship given stays government property. The Secretary may give a ship already under the Secretary’s control, accept one from another agency, or build one if needed. The Secretary may only do this if the Governor applied, the academy meets the requirements in section 51506(a), and a safe port is available. The Secretary must get the ship ready for training, equip it with necessary navigation gear, charts, books, and keep it in good repair. An agency may transfer a ship to the Secretary if it is suitable and won’t hurt that agency’s work. Subject to available funds, the Secretary will pay the academy’s fuel costs for training ships up to $100,000 for FY2006, $200,000 for FY2007, and $300,000 for FY2008 and later. Within 90 days after the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, the Maritime Administrator must set up a vessel‑sharing program, with academy input and consent when possible, to share ships, coordinate cruises and curricula, cut costs, and maximize training. Extra funds may be given when capacity is limited. The Maritime Administrator must review the program each fiscal year within 30 days and make changes to improve use.
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Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 51504
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110