46 USC 51103 code

MERCHANT MARINE SERVICE
CHAPTER 511—GENERAL. 43
46 U.S.C. 51101 (2006). Policy. It is the policy of the United States that
merchant marine vessels of the United States should be operated by highly
trained and efficient citizens of the United States and that the United States
Navy and the merchant marine of the United States should work closely
together to promote the maximum integration of the total seapower forces of
the United States.

46 U.S.C. 51102 (2006). Definitions. In this part:
(1) Academy. The term "Academy" means the United States Merchant
Marine Academy located at Kings Point, New York, and maintained under
chapter 513 of this title.
(2) Cost of education provided. The term "cost of education provided" means
the financial costs incurred by the United States Government for providing
training or financial assistance to students at the Academy and the State
maritime academies, including direct financial assistance, room, board,
classroom academics, and other training activities.
(3) Merchant marine officer. The term "merchant marine officer" means an
individual issued a license by the Coast Guard authorizing service as-(A) a master, mate, or pilot on a documented vessel that-(i) is of at least 1,000 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this
title or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as
prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title; and
(ii) operates on the oceans or the Great Lakes; or
(B) an engineer officer on a documented vessel propelled by machinery of
at least 4,000 horsepower.
(4) State maritime academy. The term "State maritime academy" means-(A) a State maritime academy or college sponsored by a State and assisted
under chapter 515 of this title; and
(B) a regional maritime academy or college sponsored by a group of States
and assisted under chapter 515 of this title.

46 U.S.C. 51103 (2006). General authority of Secretary of
Transportation.
(a) Education and training. The Secretary of Transportation may provide for
the education and training of citizens of the United States for the safe and
efficient operation of the merchant marine of the United States at all times,

43

Section 8 of Public Law 109-304, approved October 6, 2006 (120 STAT. 1568).

157

including operation as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national
emergency.
(b) Surplus property for instructional purposes.
(1) In general. The Secretary may cooperate with and assist the institutions
named in paragraph (2) by making vessels, shipboard equipment, and other
marine equipment, owned by the United States Government and determined to
be excess or surplus, available to those institutions for instructional purposes,
by gift, loan, sale, lease, or charter on terms the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(2) Institutions. The institutions referred to in paragraph (1) are-(A) the United States Merchant Marine Academy;
(B) a State maritime academy; and
(C) a nonprofit training institution jointly approved by the Secretary of
Transportation and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating as offering training courses that meet Federal regulations for
maritime training.
(c) Assistance from other agencies.
(1) In general. The Secretary of Transportation may secure directly from an
agency, on a reimbursable basis, information, facilities, and equipment
necessary to carry out this part.
(2) Detailing personnel. At the request of the Secretary, the head of an
agency (including a military department) may detail, on a reimbursable basis,
personnel from the agency to the Secretary to assist in carrying out this part.
(d) Academy personnel. To carry out this part, the Secretary may-(1) employ an individual as a professor, lecturer, or instructor at the
Academy, without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in
the competitive service; and
(2) pay the individual without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of title 5.

46 U.S.C. 51104 (2006). General authority of Secretary of the Navy.
The Secretary of the Navy, in cooperation with the Maritime Administrator and
the head of each State maritime academy, shall ensure that-(1) the training of future merchant marine officers at the United States
Merchant Marine Academy and at State maritime academies includes programs
for naval science training in the operation of merchant vessels as a naval and
military auxiliary; and
(2) naval officer training programs for future officers, insofar as possible, are
maintained at designated maritime academies consistent with Navy standards
and needs.

158