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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§51701 United States Maritime Service

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— Merchant Marine › Part B— Merchant Marine Service › Chapter 517— OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING › § 51701

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can create and run a voluntary United States Maritime Service to train U.S. citizens to serve on American merchant ships and to help the U.S. merchant marine. The Secretary can decide how many people to enroll, set pay and allowances (without following chapter 51 or subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5), set the training courses and lengths, and set the uniform and rules for wearing it. The Service uses the same ranks, grades, and ratings as the Coast Guard. The Secretary can also create medals and awards for notable service and achievement.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §51701

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may establish and maintain a voluntary organization, to be known as the United States Maritime Service, for the training of citizens of the United States to serve on merchant vessels of the United States and to perform functions to assist the United States merchant marine, as determined necessary by the Secretary.
(b)The Secretary may—
(1)determine the number of individuals to be enrolled for training and reserve purposes in the Service;
(2)fix the rates of pay and allowances of the individuals without regard to chapter 51 or subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5;
(3)prescribe the course of study and the periods of training for the Service; and
(4)prescribe the uniform of the Service and the rules on providing and wearing the uniform.
(c)The ranks, grades, and ratings for personnel of the Service shall be the same as those prescribed for personnel of the Coast Guard.
(d)The Secretary may establish and maintain a medals and awards program to recognize distinguished service, superior achievement, professional performance, and other commendable achievement by personnel of the Service.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5170146 App.:1295e.June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1306, as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2006; Pub. L. 108–136, title XXXV, § 3515(e), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1795.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–163, § 3509. See 2006 Amendment note below. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(a)(4), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–163, § 3509, into this section by substituting “of the United States and to perform functions to assist the United States merchant marine, as determined necessary by the Secretary.” for “of the United States.” See 2006 Amendment note below and section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304, set out as a Legislative Purpose and

Construction

note preceding section 101 of this title. 2006—Pub. L. 109–163, § 3509, as amended by Pub. L. 109–364, § 3510(d)(1), which directed the amendment of section 1295e(a) of the former Appendix to this title from which subsec. (a) of this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(b). See 2008 Amendment note for subsec. (a) and

Historical and Revision Notes

above.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2006 Amendment Pub. L. 109–364, div. C, title XXXV, § 3510(d)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2521, provided that: “This subsection [amending section 3509 of Pub. L. 109–163 which had amended section 1295e(a) of the former Appendix to this title, from which subsec. (a) of this section is derived] shall be effective immediately after section 3509 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (119 Stat. 3557) [Pub. L. 109–163] takes effect [Jan. 6, 2006].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 51701

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60