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 676

C ompl i a n c waiver.

Coastwise trade.

39 Stat. 730. 46 USC 808.

Inspection.

R e c o nd iti oni ng of v e s s e l s.

41 USC 5.

49 Stat. 2001. 46 USC 11911204. Effectivity.

Definitions.

PUBLIC LAW 569-AUG. 9, 1954

[68

STAT.

vessel, the surrender of the documents of which has been so ordered, shall, after the effective date of such order, have the status of a vessel of the United States unless documented anew. (b) The President may, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, by rules and regulations or orders, waive compliance with any provision of law relating to masters, officers, members of the crew, or crew accommodations on any vessel documented under authority of this section to such extent and upon such terms as he finds necessary because of the lack of physical facilities on such vessels, and because of the need to employ aliens for their operation. No vessel shall cease to enjoy the benefits and privileges of a vessel of the United States by reason of the employment of any person in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. (c) Any vessel while documented under the provisions of this section, when chartered under this Act by the Secretary of Commerce to Government agencies or departments or to private operators, may engage in the coastwise trade under permits issued by the Secretary of Commerce, who is hereby authorized to issue permits for such purpose pursuant to such rules and regulations as he may prescribe. The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and provisions of this section. The second paragraph of section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended, shall not apply with respect to vessels chartered to Government agencies or departments or to private operators or otherwise used or disposed of under this Act. Existing laws covering the inspection of steam vessels are hereby made applicable to vessels documented under this section only to such extent and upon such conditions as may be required by regulations of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating: Provided, That in determining to what extent those laws should be made applicable, due consideration shall be given to the primary purpose of transporting commodities essential to the national defense. (d) The Secretary of Commerce without regard to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes may repair, reconstruct, or recondition any vessels to be utilized under this Act. The Secretary of Commerce and any other Government department or agency by which any vessel is acquired or chartered, or to which any vessel is transferred or made available under this Act may, with the aid of any funds available and without regard to the provisions of said section 3709, repair, reconstruct, or recondition any such vessels to meet the needs of the services intended, or provide facilities for such repair, reconstruction, or reconditioning. The Secretary of Commerce may operate or charter for operation any vessel to be utilized under this Act to private operators, citizens of the United States, or to any department or agency of the United States Government, without regard to the provisions of title VII of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and any department or agency of the United States Government is authorized to enter into such charters. (e) In case of any voyage of a vessel documented under the provisions of this section begun before the date of termination of an effective period of section 1 hereof, but is completed after such date, the provisions of this section shall continue in effect with respect to such vessel until such voyage is completed. (f) When used in this Act, the term "documented" means "registered", "enrolled and licensed", or "licensed". Approved August 9, 1954.

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