112 
‘‘(g) REMOVING VESSELS FROM SERVICE AND VESSEL SHARING.—The 
Secretary may not— 
‘‘(1) take a vessel, currently in use as a training vessel under this 
section, out of service to implement an alternative program (including 
vessel sharing) unless the vessel is incapable of being maintained in 
good repair as required by subsection (d); or 
‘‘(2) implement a program requiring a State maritime academy to 
share its training vessel with another State maritime academy, except 
with the express consent of Congress. 
‘‘§ 51505. Annual payments for maintenance and support 
‘‘(a) PAYMENT AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of Transportation may 
make an agreement (effective for not more than 4 years) with the following 
academies to provide annual payments to those academies for their mainte-
nance and support: 
‘‘(1) One State maritime academy in each State that satisfies section 
51506(a) of this title. 
‘‘(2) Each regional maritime academy that satisfies section 51506(a) 
of this title. 
‘‘(b) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), an annual payment to 
an academy under subsection (a) shall be at least equal to the amount 
given to the academy for its maintenance and support by the State in 
which it is located, or, for a regional maritime academy, by all States 
cooperating to sponsor the academy. 
‘‘(2) MAXIMUM.—The amount under paragraph (1) may not be more 
than $25,000. However, if the academy satisfies section 51506(b) of 
this title, the amount shall be— 
‘‘(A) $100,000 for a State maritime academy; and 
‘‘(B) $200,000 for a regional maritime academy. 
‘‘§ 51506. Conditions to receiving payments and use of ves-
sels 
‘‘(a) GENERAL CONDITIONS.—As conditions of receiving an annual pay-
ment or the use of a vessel under this chapter, a State maritime academy 
must— 
‘‘(1) provide courses of instruction on navigation, marine engineering 
(including steam and diesel propulsion), the operation and maintenance 
of new vessels and equipment, and innovations being introduced to the 
merchant marine of the United States; 
‘‘(2) agree in writing to conform to the standards for courses, train-
ing facilities, admissions, and instruction that the Secretary of Trans-
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portation may establish after consultation with the superintendents of 
State maritime academies; and 
‘‘(3) agree in writing to require, as a condition for graduation, that 
each individual who is a citizen of the United States and who is attend-
ing the academy in a merchant marine officer preparation program 
pass the examination required for the issuance of a license under sec-
tion 7101 of this title. 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL CONDITION TO PAYMENTS OF MORE THAN $25,000.— 
As a condition of receiving an annual payment of more than $25,000 under 
section 51505 of this title, a State maritime academy also must agree to 
admit each year a number of citizens of the United States who meet its ad-
mission requirements and reside in a State not supporting that academy. 
The Secretary shall determine the number of individuals to be admitted by 
each academy under this subsection. The number may not be more than 
one-third of the total number of individuals attending the academy at any 
time. 
‘‘§ 51507. Places of training 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation may provide for the training of stu-
dents attending a State maritime academy— 
‘‘(1) on vessels owned or subsidized by the United States Govern-
ment; 
‘‘(2) on other documented vessels, with the permission of the owner; 
and 
‘‘(3) in shipyards or plants and with industrial or educational organi-
zations. 
‘‘§ 51508. Allowances for students 
‘‘Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation, a stu-
dent at a State maritime academy shall receive from the Secretary allow-
ances for transportation (including reimbursement of traveling expenses) 
when traveling under orders to receive training under section 51507 of this 
title. 
‘‘§ 51509. Student incentive payment agreements 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—If a State maritime academy has an agree-
ment with the Secretary of Transportation under section 51505 of this title, 
the Secretary may make an agreement with a student at the academy who 
is a citizen of the United States to make student incentive payments to the 
individual. An agreement with a student may not be effective for more than 
4 academic years. The Secretary shall allocate payments under this section 
among the various State maritime academies in an equitable manner. 
‘‘(b) PAYMENTS.—Payments under an agreement under this section shall 
be equal to $4,000 each academic year and be paid, as prescribed by the 
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Secretary, while the individual is attending the academy. The payments 
shall be used for uniforms, books, and subsistence. 
‘‘(c) MIDSHIPMAN
AND ENLISTED RESERVE STATUS.—An agreement 
under this section shall require the student to accept midshipman and en-
listed reserve status in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine 
Reserve, Naval Reserve) before receiving any payments under the agree-
ment. 
‘‘(d) AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement under this section 
shall require the student to— 
‘‘(1) complete the course of instruction at the academy the individual 
is attending; 
‘‘(2) take the examination for a license as an officer in the merchant 
marine of the United States before graduation from the academy and 
fulfill the requirements for such a license within 3 months after grad-
uation from the academy; 
‘‘(3) maintain a valid license as an officer in the merchant marine 
of the United States for at least 6 years after graduation from the 
academy, accompanied by the appropriate national and international 
endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard for service 
aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages; 
‘‘(4) accept, if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer 
in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval 
Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve unit of an 
armed force of the United States, and, if tendered the appointment, to 
serve for at least 6 years after graduation from the academy; 
‘‘(5) serve the foreign and domestic commerce and the national de-
fense of the United States for at least 3 years after graduation from 
the academy— 
‘‘(A) as a merchant marine officer on a documented vessel or 
a vessel owned and operated by the United States Government or 
by a State; 
‘‘(B) as an employee in a United States maritime-related indus-
try, profession, or marine science (as determined by the Sec-
retary), if the Secretary determines that service under subpara-
graph (A) is not available to the individual; 
‘‘(C) as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed force 
of the United States, as a commissioned officer in the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or in other maritime-re-
lated Federal employment which serves the national security inter-
ests of the United States, as determined by the Secretary; or 
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‘‘(D) by a combination of the service alternatives referred to in 
subparagraphs (A)–(C); and 
‘‘(6) report to the Secretary on compliance with this subsection. 
‘‘(e) FAILURE TO COMPLETE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) ACTIVE DUTY.—If the Secretary of Transportation determines 
that an individual who has accepted the payments described in sub-
section (b) for a minimum of 2 academic years has failed to fulfill the 
part of the agreement described in subsection (d)(1), the individual 
may be ordered by the Secretary of Defense to serve on active duty 
in the armed forces of the United States for a period of not more than 
2 years. In cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of Trans-
portation, the Secretary of Transportation may waive this paragraph 
in whole or in part. 
‘‘(2) RECOVERY OF COST.—If the Secretary of Defense is unable or 
unwilling to order an individual to serve on active duty under para-
graph (1), or if the Secretary of Transportation determines that reim-
bursement of the cost of education provided would better serve the in-
terests of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation may re-
cover from the individual the amount of student incentive payments, 
plus interest and attorney fees. The Secretary may reduce the amount 
to be recovered to reflect partial performance of service obligations and 
other factors the Secretary determines merit a reduction. 
‘‘(f) FAILURE TO CARRY OUT OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) ACTIVE DUTY.—If the Secretary of Transportation determines 
that an individual has failed to fulfill any part of the agreement de-
scribed in subsection (d)(2)–(6), the individual may be ordered to serve 
on active duty for a period of at least 2 years but not more than the 
unexpired period (as determined by the Secretary) of the service re-
quired by subsection (d)(5). The Secretary of Transportation, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall determine in which serv-
ice the individual shall serve. In cases of hardship as determined by 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Transportation may 
waive this paragraph in whole or in part. 
‘‘(2) RECOVERY OF COST.—If the Secretary of Defense is unable or 
unwilling to order an individual to serve on active duty under para-
graph (1), or if the Secretary of Transportation determines that reim-
bursement of the cost of education provided would better serve the in-
terests of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation may re-
cover from the individual the amount of student incentive payments, 
plus interest and attorney fees. The Secretary may reduce the amount 
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to be recovered to reflect partial performance of service obligations and 
other factors the Secretary determines merit a reduction. 
‘‘(g) ACTIONS TO RECOVER COST.—To aid in the recovery of the cost 
of education provided by the Government under a commitment agreement 
under this section, the Secretary of Transportation may— 
‘‘(1) request the Attorney General to bring a civil action against the 
individual; and 
‘‘(2) make use of the Federal debt collection procedures in chapter 
176 of title 28 or other applicable administrative remedies. 
‘‘§ 51510. Deferment of service obligation under student in-
centive payment agreements 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation may defer the service commitment of 
an individual under section 51509(d)(5) of this title (as specified in the 
agreement under section 51509) for not more than 2 years if the individual 
is engaged in a graduate course of study approved by the Secretary. How-
ever, deferment of service as a commissioned officer on active duty must be 
approved by the Secretary of the affected military department (or the Sec-
retary of Commerce, for service with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration). 
‘‘§ 51511. Midshipman status in the Naval Reserve 
‘‘A citizen of the United States attending a State maritime academy may 
be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy as a midshipman in the Naval 
Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve). 
‘‘CHAPTER 517—OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT 
MARINE TRAINING 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘51701.
United States Maritime Service. 
‘‘51702.
Civilian nautical schools. 
‘‘51703.
Additional training. 
‘‘51704.
Training for maritime oil pollution prevention, response, and clean-up. 
‘‘§ 51701. United States Maritime Service 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may es-
tablish and maintain a voluntary organization, to be known as the United 
States Maritime Service, for the training of citizens of the United States 
to serve on merchant vessels of the United States. 
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) determine the number of individuals to be enrolled for training 
and reserve purposes in the Service; 
‘‘(2) fix the rates of pay and allowances of the individuals without 
regard to chapter 51 or subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5; 
‘‘(3) prescribe the course of study and the periods of training for the 
Service; and 
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‘‘(4) prescribe the uniform of the Service and the rules on providing 
and wearing the uniform. 
‘‘(c) RANKS, GRADES, AND RATINGS.—The ranks, grades, and ratings for 
personnel of the Service shall be the same as those prescribed for personnel 
of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(d) MEDALS AND AWARDS.—The Secretary may establish and maintain 
a medals and awards program to recognize distinguished service, superior 
achievement, professional performance, and other commendable achievement 
by personnel of the Service. 
‘‘§ 51702. Civilian nautical schools 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘civilian nautical school’ 
means a school operated in the United States (except the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy, a State maritime academy, or another school 
operated by the United States Government) that offers instruction to indi-
viduals quartered on a vessel primarily to train them for service in the mer-
chant marine. 
‘‘(b) INSPECTION.—Each civilian nautical school is subject to inspection 
by the Secretary of Transportation. 
‘‘(c) RATING AND CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary may, under regula-
tions the Secretary may prescribe, provide for the rating and certification 
of civilian nautical schools as to the adequacy of their course of instruction, 
the competence of their instructors, and the suitability of the equipment 
used in their course of instruction. 
‘‘§ 51703. Additional training 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may pro-
vide additional training on maritime subjects to supplement other training 
opportunities and make the training available to the personnel of the mer-
chant marine of the United States and individuals preparing for a career 
in the merchant marine of the United States. 
‘‘(b) EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) prepare or buy equipment or supplies required for the additional 
training; and 
‘‘(2) without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 
U.S.C. 5), make contracts for services the Secretary considers nec-
essary to prepare the equipment and supplies and to supervise and ad-
minister the additional training. 
‘‘§ 51704. Training for maritime oil pollution prevention, re-
sponse, and clean-up 
‘‘(a) ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall assist maritime training institutions approved by the Sec-
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retary in establishing a training program for maritime oil pollution preven-
tion, response, and clean-up. 
‘‘(b) PROVIDING TRAINING VESSELS.—Subject to subsection (c), the Sec-
retary may provide, with title free of all liens, to maritime training institu-
tions that have a program established under subsection (a), offshore supply 
vessels and tug/supply vessels that were built in the United States and are 
in the possession of the Maritime Administration because of a default on 
a loan guaranteed under chapter 537 of this title. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—In addition to any other requirements the Sec-
retary considers appropriate, the following requirements apply to vessels 
provided under this section: 
‘‘(1) The vessel shall be offered to the institution at a location se-
lected by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The institution shall use the vessel to train students and appro-
priate maritime industry personnel in oil spill prevention, response, 
clean-up, and related skills. 
‘‘(3) The institution shall make the vessel and qualified students 
available to appropriate Federal, State, and local oil spill response au-
thorities when there is a maritime oil spill. 
‘‘(4) The institution may not sell, trade, charter, donate, scrap, or 
in any way alter or dispose of the vessel without prior approval of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(5) The institution may not use the vessel in competition with a 
privately-owned vessel documented under chapter 121 of this title or 
titled under the law of a State, unless necessary to carry out this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(6) When the institution can no longer use the vessel for its train-
ing program, the institution shall return the vessel to the Secretary. 
The Secretary shall take possession at the institution and thereafter 
may provide the vessel to another institution under this section or dis-
pose of the vessel. 
‘‘CHAPTER 519—MERCHANT MARINE AWARDS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘51901.
Awards for individual acts or service. 
‘‘51902.
Gallant Ship Award. 
‘‘51903.
Multiple awards. 
‘‘51904.
Presentation to representatives. 
‘‘51905.
Flags and grave markers. 
‘‘51906.
Special certificates for civilian service to armed forces. 
‘‘51907.
Manufacture and sale of awards and replacements. 
‘‘51908.
Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards. 
‘‘§ 51901. Awards for individual acts or service 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may 
award decorations and medals of appropriate design (including ribbons, rib-
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bon bars, emblems, rosettes, miniature facsimiles, plaques, citations, or 
other suitable devices or insignia) for individual acts or service in the mer-
chant marine of the United States. The design may be similar to the design 
of a decoration or medal authorized for members of the armed forces for 
similar acts or service. 
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may award— 
‘‘(1) a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to an indi-
vidual for outstanding acts, conduct, or valor beyond the line of duty; 
‘‘(2) a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal to an individual 
for meritorious acts, conduct, or valor in the line of duty, but not of 
the outstanding character that would warrant the award of the Mer-
chant Marine Distinguished Service Medal; 
‘‘(3) a decoration or medal to an individual for service during a war, 
national emergency proclaimed by the President or Congress, or oper-
ations by the armed forces outside the continental United States under 
conditions of danger to life and property; and 
‘‘(4) a decoration or medal to an individual for other acts or service 
of conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and extraordinary heroism under 
conditions of danger to life and property that would warrant a similar 
decoration or medal for a member of the armed forces. 
‘‘§ 51902. Gallant Ship Award 
‘‘(a) AWARDS TO VESSELS.—The Secretary of Transportation may award 
a Gallant Ship Award and a citation to a vessel (including a foreign vessel) 
participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other 
emergency to save life or property at sea. The Secretary may award a 
plaque to the vessel, and a replica of the plaque may be preserved as a per-
manent historical record. 
‘‘(b) AWARDS TO CREWS.—The Secretary of Transportation may award 
an appropriate citation ribbon bar to the master and each individual serv-
ing, at the time of the action, on a vessel issued an award under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with 
the Secretary of State before awarding an award or citation to a foreign 
vessel or its crew under this section. 
‘‘§ 51903. Multiple awards 
‘‘An individual may not be awarded more than one of any type of decora-
tion or medal under this chapter. For each succeeding act or service justi-
fying the same decoration or medal, a suitable device may be awarded to 
be worn with the decoration or medal. 
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‘‘§ 51904. Presentation to representatives 
‘‘If an individual to be issued an award under this chapter is unable to 
accept the award personally, the Secretary of Transportation may present 
the award to an appropriate representative. 
‘‘§ 51905. Flags and grave markers 
‘‘Except as authorized under another law, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation may issue, at no cost, a flag of the United States and a grave marker 
to the family or personal representative of a deceased individual who served 
in the merchant marine of the United States in support of the armed forces 
of the United States or its allies during a war or national emergency. 
‘‘§ 51906. Special certificates for civilian service to armed 
forces 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Maritime Administrator may issue a 
special certificate to an individual, or the personal representative of an indi-
vidual, in recognition of service of that individual in the merchant marine 
of the United States, if the service has been determined to be active duty 
under section 401 of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95– 
202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note). 
‘‘(b) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—Issuance of a certificate under 
subsection (a) does not entitle an individual to any rights, privileges, or ben-
efits under a law of the United States. 
‘‘§ 51907. Manufacture and sale of awards and replacements 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation may— 
‘‘(1) authorize private persons to manufacture decorations and med-
als authorized under this chapter or a prior law; and 
‘‘(2) provide at cost, or authorize private persons to sell at reason-
able prices, replacements for those decorations and medals. 
‘‘§ 51908. Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, 
sale, possession, or display of awards 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—Except as authorized under this chapter, a person 
may not manufacture, sell, possess, or display a decoration or medal pro-
vided for in this chapter. 
‘‘(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—A person violating this section is liable to the 
United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $2,000. 
‘‘CHAPTER 521—MISCELLANEOUS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘52101.
Reemployment rights for certain merchant seamen. 
‘‘§ 52101. Reemployment rights for certain merchant seamen 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual who is certified by the Secretary of 
Transportation under subsection (c) shall be entitled to reemployment rights 
and other benefits substantially equivalent to the rights and benefits pro-
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