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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§53714 Guarantee Fees

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— Merchant Marine › Part C— Financial Assistance Programs › Chapter 537— LOANS AND GUARANTEES › Subchapter I— GENERAL › § 53714

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary or Administrator must make rules to charge a fee when the government guarantees a loan or obligation under this chapter. The fee is the total of yearly charges for every year the guarantee is active. Each year’s charge is the present value (discounted using a Treasury rate based on similar U.S. government yields) of the average unpaid principal that year (not counting principal held in an escrow account), multiplied by a fee rate. The fee rate comes from a formula that looks at the security for the loan and uses a sliding scale based on the borrower’s credit. For delivered vessels or equipment the rate must be between 0.5% and 1%. For vessels being built, rebuilt, or reconditioned, or equipment to be delivered, the rate must be between 0.25% and 0.5%. The fee must be collected by the time the first payment on the obligation is made. The fee can be financed as part of the loan and is not refundable, but if the borrower refinances and gets a new guarantee, they get credit for the fee already paid for the remaining term.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §53714

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to this section, the Secretary or Administrator shall prescribe regulations to assess a fee for guaranteeing an obligation under this chapter.
(b)(1)The amount of the fee for a guarantee under this chapter shall be equal to the sum of the amounts determined under paragraph (2) for the years in which the guarantee is in effect.
(2)The amount referred to in paragraph (1) for a year in which the guarantee is in effect is the present value of the amount calculated under paragraph (3). To determine the present value, the Secretary or Administrator shall apply a discount rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, considering current market yields on outstanding obligations of the United States Government having periods to maturity comparable to the period to maturity for the guaranteed obligation.
(3)The amount referred to in paragraph (2) shall be calculated by multiplying—
(A)the estimated average unpaid principal amount of the obligation that will be outstanding during the year (excluding the average amount, other than interest, on deposit during the year in an escrow fund under section 53715 of this title); by
(B)the fee rate set under paragraph (4).
(4)To set the fee rate referred to in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary or Administrator shall establish a formula that—
(A)takes into account the security provided for the guaranteed obligation; and
(B)is a sliding scale based on the creditworthiness of the obligor, using—
(i)the lowest allowable rate under paragraph (5) for the most creditworthy obligors; and
(ii)the highest allowable rate under paragraph (5) for the least creditworthy obligors.
(5)The fee rate set under paragraph (4) shall be—
(A)for a delivered vessel or equipment, at least 0.5 percent and not more than 1 percent; and
(B)for a vessel to be constructed, reconstructed, or reconditioned or equipment to be delivered, at least 0.25 percent and not more than 0.5 percent.
(c)A fee for the guarantee of an obligation under this chapter shall be collected not later than the date on which an amount is first paid on the obligation.
(d)A fee paid under this section is eligible to be financed under this chapter and shall be included in the actual cost of the obligation guaranteed.
(e)A fee paid under this section is not refundable. However, an obligor shall receive credit for the amount paid for the remaining term of the obligation if the obligation is refinanced and guaranteed under this chapter after the refinancing.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 53714(a)46 App.:1274(e)(1).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XI, § 1104A(e) [§ 1104A formerly § 1104], as added June 23, 1938, ch. 600, § 46, 52 Stat. 970; Aug. 4, 1939, ch. 417, § 14, 53 Stat. 1187; Sept. 28, 1950, ch. 1093, § 4, 64 Stat. 1078; Aug. 15, 1953, ch. 513, § 2, 67 Stat. 626; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1265, § 4, 68 Stat. 1269; Pub. L. 86–123, §§ 1(3), 2, July 31, 1959, 73 Stat. 269, 271; Pub. L. 86–127, § 1(3), (4), July 31, 1959, 73 Stat. 273; Pub. L. 86–518, § 1, June 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 216; Pub. L. 86–685, §§ 2, 3, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 733; Pub. L. 90–341, June 15, 1968, 82 Stat. 180; Pub. L. 91–469, §§ 31, 32, Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1035; restated Pub. L. 92–507, § 3, Oct. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 913; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(136), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 166; Pub. L. 98–595, § 1(12), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3131; § 1104 renumbered as § 1104A, Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4115(f)(1), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 521; Pub. L. 104–239, § 13(c), Oct. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 3136. 53714(b)46 App.:1274(e)(2). 53714(c)46 App.:1274(e)(3). 53714(d)46 App.:1274(e)(5). 53714(e)46 App.:1274(e)(4).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–163, § 3507(a)(1)(D). See 2006 Amendment note below. Subsecs. (a), (b)(2), (4). Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(a)(10)(B), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–163, § 3507(a)(1)(D), into this section by inserting “or Administrator” after “Secretary”, except the second place appearing in subsec. (b)(2). 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, § 3507(a)(1)(D), which directed the amendment of section 1274(e) of the former Appendix to this title from which this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(b). See 2008 Amendment note for subsecs. (a), (b)(2), (4) and

Historical and Revision Notes

above.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 53714

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60