§53201 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used later in the chapter. Cable services covers work on submarine cables — putting them in place, keeping them working, fixing them, and the ship operations tied to that work. A cable vessel is a ship classed as a cable ship by the American Bureau of Shipping or another classification society the Secretary accepts, and able to install, maintain, and repair submarine cables. Cable Fleet refers to the Cable Security Fleet in section 53202(a). Contingency Agreement and Operating Agreement are the specific contracts required by sections 53207 and 53203. A Contractor is a vessel owner or operator that signs an Operating Agreement with the Secretary under section 53203. Fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Operating Agency is the part of the Department of Defense the Secretary of Defense assigns under this chapter. Person includes corporations, partnerships, and associations under U.S. or foreign law. Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation. United States includes the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. A United States citizen trust must meet rules: it must be set up under state law, have trustees who are U.S. citizens, and include with a chapter 121 vessel documentation application an affidavit from each trustee saying they know of no reason that any beneficiary or other person who is not a U.S. citizen would hold more than 25 percent of the total power to influence or limit a trustee’s authority on ownership or operation matters that could harm U.S. interests. If any non‑U.S. person can direct or help direct trustees on such matters or remove a trustee without cause, the trust is not qualified unless its rules limit non‑U.S. persons to no more than 25 percent of the total authority to direct or remove a trustee. That rule does not stop a non‑U.S. person from owning more than 25 percent of the trust’s beneficial interest.