§53501 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter about ship agreements, trade, and who runs the program. It gives short meanings for terms you will see later so people know what kinds of vessels, trades, and officials the rules apply to. Agreement vessel means an eligible or qualified vessel covered by an agreement under the chapter, and it can include a barge or container if the agreement allows. Eligible vessel means a vessel that meets one of three construction/documenting tests (built in the United States, built abroad but U.S.-documented on April 15, 1970, or built abroad under a contract made before April 15, 1970), is U.S.-documented, and is used in U.S. foreign or domestic trade or fisheries; it also covers small commercial fishing vessels of at least 2 net tons but less than 5 net tons that are U.S.-owned and U.S.-based. Joint regulations means rules made together by the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury under section 53502(b). Noncontiguous trade means trade between the 48 contiguous States and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or an insular territory or between two places among Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or an insular territory or possession. Qualified vessel is like eligible vessel but must be agreed with the Secretary and the person running the capital construction fund under section 53503. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce for fisheries and the Secretary of Transportation for other vessels. Short sea transportation trade means cargo carried in intermodal containers or by wheeled technology between U.S. ports or between U.S. ports and Canadian ports in the Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence Seaway System. United States foreign trade includes areas where a vessel built with a construction-differential subsidy may operate under the first sentence of section 506 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. Vessel also includes cargo-handling equipment meant mainly for use on the vessel and ocean-going towing vessels or barges, including similar craft on the Great Lakes.