Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— Merchant Marine › Part C— Financial Assistance Programs › Chapter 533— CONSTRUCTION RESERVE FUNDS › § 53301
Defines two key words used later: "construction contract" and "new vessel." Construction contract: when a taxpayer builds a new ship in a shipyard they own, an agreement between that taxpayer and the Secretary of Transportation can serve as the construction contract if it includes whatever terms the Secretary thinks are needed to carry out the chapter. New vessel: a ship that meets all of these rules — it was built in the United States after December 31, 1939 (or built with a title V subsidy or with financing or a financing guarantee under chapters 537 or 575), is documented or agreed to be documented under U.S. law, and is either suitable for high seas or Great Lakes service and generally at least 2,000 gross tons and 12 knots (unless the Secretary approves a smaller or slower ship for government wartime use), or was built to replace a government‑bought or requisitioned ship. It also includes ships rebuilt just for Great Lakes use (including the Saint Lawrence River and Gulf) if the Secretary finds that rebuilding supports the chapter’s goals. Other terms used here have the same meanings as in chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. ch. 1).
Full Legal Text
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 53301
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60