Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§57106 Maintenance, Improvement, and Operation of Vessels
Title 46 › Subtitle V — Merchant Marine › Part F — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels › CHAPTER 571 — GENERAL AUTHORITY › § 57106
Summary
The Secretary of Transportation may fix up, run, or lease U.S.-owned ships that the Secretary controls so they can compete in foreign trade. Ships improved this way must be registered under U.S. law and stay registered for at least 5 years, and during that time they must not sail only coastwise.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §57106
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
The Secretary of Transportation may maintain, repair, recondition, remodel, and improve vessels owned by the United States Government and in the possession or under the control of the Secretary, to equip them adequately for competition in the foreign trade of the United States. The Secretary may operate such a vessel or charter the vessel on terms and conditions the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.
(b)Documentation and Restrictions on Operation.—
A vessel reconditioned, remodeled, or improved under subsection (a) shall be documented under the laws of the United States and remain so documented for at least 5 years after completion of the reconditioning, remodeling, or improvement. During that period, it shall be operated on voyages that are not exclusively coastwise.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5710646 App.:871.June 5, 1920, ch. 250, § 12, 41 Stat. 993; June 6, 1924, ch. 273, § 2, 43 Stat. 468; Feb. 11, 1927, ch. 104, § 1 (last par. under heading “United States Shipping Board”), 44 Stat. 1083; Exec. Order No. 6166, § 12, eff. June 10, 1933; June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 204, title IX, § 904, 49 Stat. 1987, 2016; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(43), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 157. 46 App.:891b.May 22, 1928, ch. 675, title II, § 202, 45 Stat. 690; Exec. Order No. 6166, § 12, eff. June 10, 1933; June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 204, title IX, § 904, 49 Stat. 1987, 2016; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(51), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 157. This section is substituted for the source provisions to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary provisions.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 57106
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110