Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1589

 120 STAT. 1558

PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006

‘‘(C) the number of voyages and types of vessels that should be employed in a line; ‘‘(D) the intangible benefit of maintaining a line to the foreign commerce of the United States, the national defense, and other national requirements; and ‘‘(E) any other facts and conditions a prudent business person would consider when dealing with the person’s own business. ‘‘(2) SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish services, routes, and lines that reflect the seasonal closing of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and provide for alternate routing of vessels through a different range of ports during that closing to maintain continuity of service on a year-round basis. ‘‘(b) BULK CARGO CARRYING SERVICES.—The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the bulk cargo carrying services that should be provided by vessels of the United States (whether or not operating on particular services, routes, or lines) for the promotion, development, expansion, and maintenance of the foreign commerce of the United States and the national defense or other national requirements. ‘‘(c) TYPES OF VESSELS.—The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the type, size, speed, method of propulsion, and other requirements of the vessels, including express-liner or super-liner vessels, that should be employed in— ‘‘(1) the services, routes, or lines described in subsection (a), and the frequency and regularity of the voyages of the vessels, with a view to furnishing adequate, regular, certain, and permanent service; and ‘‘(2) the bulk cargo carrying services described in subsection (b). ‘‘§ 50104. Studies of general maritime problems ‘‘The Secretary of Transportation shall study all maritime problems arising in carrying out the policy in section 50101 of this title. ‘‘§ 50105. Studies and cooperation relating to the construction of vessels ‘‘(a) RELATIVE COSTS AND NEW DESIGNS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of— ‘‘(1) the relative cost of construction of comparable vessels in the United States and in foreign countries; and ‘‘(2) new designs, new methods of construction, and new types of equipment for vessels. ‘‘(b) RULES, CLASSIFICATIONS, AND RATINGS.—The Secretary shall examine the rules under which vessels are constructed abroad and in the United States and the methods of classifying and rating the vessels. ‘‘(c) COLLABORATION WITH OWNERS AND BUILDERS.—The Secretary shall collaborate with vessel owners and shipbuilders in developing plans for the economical construction of vessels and their propelling machinery, of most modern economical types, giving thorough consideration to all well-recognized means of propulsion and taking into account the benefits from standardized production where practicable and desirable.

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