pecially with a view to their use in a national emergency, and the use of 
transoceanic aircraft service in connection with or in lieu of those vessels. 
‘‘§ 50106. Studies on the operation of vessels 
‘‘(a) RELATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall inves-
tigate, determine, and keep current records of the relative cost of marine 
insurance, maintenance, repairs, wages and subsistence of officers and 
crews, and all other items of expense, in the operation of comparable vessels 
under the laws and regulations of the United States and those of the foreign 
countries whose vessels are substantial competitors of American vessels. 
‘‘(b) SHIPYARDS.—The Secretary shall investigate, determine, and keep 
current records of the number, location, and efficiency of shipyards in the 
United States. 
‘‘(c) NAVIGATION LAWS.—The Secretary shall examine the navigation 
laws and regulations of the United States and make such recommendations 
to Congress as the Secretary considers proper for the amendment, improve-
ment, and revision of those laws and for the development of the merchant 
marine of the United States. 
‘‘§ 50107. Studies on marine insurance 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation shall—
‘‘(1) examine into the subject of marine insurance, the number of 
companies in the United States, domestic and foreign, engaging in ma-
rine insurance, the extent of the insurance on hulls and cargoes placed 
or written in the United States, and the extent of reinsurance of Amer-
ican maritime risks in foreign companies; and 
‘‘(2) ascertain what steps may be necessary to develop an ample ma-
rine insurance system as an aid in the development of the merchant 
marine of the United States. 
‘‘§ 50108. Studies on cargo carriage and cargo containers 
‘‘(a) STUDIES.—The Secretary of Transportation shall study—
‘‘(1) the methods of encouraging the development and implementa-
tion of new concepts for the carriage of cargo in the domestic and for-
eign commerce of the United States; and 
‘‘(2) the economic and technological aspects of the use of cargo con-
tainers as a method of carrying out the policy in section 50101 of this 
title. 
‘‘(b) RESTRICTION.—In carrying out subsection (a) and the policy in sec-
tion 50101 of this title, the United States Government may not give pref-
erence as between carriers based on the length, height, or width of cargo 
containers or the length, height, or width of cargo container cells. This re-
striction applies to all existing container vessels and any container vessel to 
be constructed or rebuilt.
‘‘§ 50109. Miscellaneous studies 
‘‘(a) FOREIGN SUBSIDIES.—The Secretary of Transportation shall inves-
tigate, determine, and keep current records of the extent and character of 
the governmental aid and subsidies granted by foreign governments to their 
merchant marine. 
‘‘(b) LAWS APPLICABLE TO AIRCRAFT.—The Secretary shall investigate, 
determine, and keep current records of the provisions of law relating to 
shipping that should be made applicable to aircraft engaged in foreign com-
merce to further the policy in section 50101 of this title, and any appro-
priate legislation in this regard. 
‘‘(c) AID FOR COTTON, COAL, LUMBER, AND CEMENT.—The Secretary 
shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the advisability of 
enactment of suitable legislation authorizing the Secretary, in an economic 
or commercial emergency, to aid farmers and producers of cotton, coal, lum-
ber, and cement in any section of the United States in the transportation 
and landing of their products in any foreign port, which products can be 
carried in dry-cargo vessels by reducing rates, by supplying additional ton-
nage to any American operator, or by operation of vessels directly by the 
Secretary, until the Secretary considers the special rate reduction and oper-
ation unnecessary for the benefit of those farmers and producers. 
‘‘(d) INTERCOASTAL AND INLAND WATER TRANSPORTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of intercoastal 
and inland water transportation, including their relation to transportation 
by land and air. 
‘‘(e) OBSOLETE TONNAGE AND TRAMP SERVICE.—The Secretary shall 
make studies and reports to Congress on—
‘‘(1) the scrapping or removal from service of old or obsolete mer-
chant tonnage owned by the United States Government or in use in 
the merchant marine; and 
‘‘(2) tramp shipping service and the advisability of citizens of the 
United States participating in that service with vessels under United 
States registry. 
‘‘(f) MORTGAGE LOANS.—The Secretary shall investigate the legal status 
of mortgage loans on vessel property, with a view to the means of improving 
the security of those loans and of encouraging investment in American ship-
ping. 
‘‘§ 50110. Securing preference to vessels of the United States 
‘‘(a) POSSIBILITIES OF PROMOTING CARRIAGE.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the possi-
bilities of promoting the carriage of United States foreign trade in vessels 
of the United States.
‘‘(b) INDUCEMENTS TO IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS.—The Secretary 
shall study and cooperate with vessel owners in devising means by which 
the importers and exporters of the United States can be induced to give 
preference to vessels of the United States. 
‘‘(c) LIAISON WITH AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall establish and maintain liaison with such other agencies of the United 
States Government, and with such representative trade organizations 
throughout the United States, as may be concerned, directly or indirectly, 
with any movement of commodities in the waterborne export and import for-
eign commerce of the United States, for the purpose of securing preference 
to vessels of the United States in the shipment of those commodities. 
‘‘§ 50111. Reports to Congress 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall submit a report to Congress. The report shall in-
clude, with respect to activities of the Secretary under this subtitle, the re-
sults of investigations, a summary of transactions, a statement of all ex-
penditures and receipts, the purposes for which all expenditures were made, 
and any recommendations for legislation. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTERED AND OVERSIGHT FUNDS.—The Secretary, in the re-
port under subsection (a) and in the annual budget estimate for the Mari-
time Administration submitted to Congress, shall state separately the 
amount, source, intended use, and nature of any funds (other than funds 
appropriated to the Administration or to the Secretary of Transportation 
for use by the Administration) administered, or subject to oversight, by the 
Administration. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR LEGISLATION.—The Sec-
retary, from time to time, shall make recommendations to Congress for leg-
islation the Secretary considers necessary to better achieve the objectives 
and policy of section 50101 of this title. 
‘‘§ 50112. National Maritime Enhancement Institutes 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of Transportation may designate Na-
tional Maritime Enhancement Institutes. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities undertaken by an institute may include—
‘‘(1) conducting research about methods to improve the performance 
of maritime industries; 
‘‘(2) enhancing the competitiveness of domestic maritime industries 
in international trade; 
‘‘(3) forecasting trends in maritime trade; 
‘‘(4) assessing technological advancements; 
‘‘(5) developing management initiatives and training;
‘‘(6) analyzing economic and operational impacts of regulatory poli-
cies and international negotiations or agreements pending before inter-
national bodies; 
‘‘(7) assessing the compatibility of domestic maritime infrastructure 
systems with overseas transport systems; 
‘‘(8) fostering innovations in maritime transportation pricing; and 
‘‘(9) improving maritime economics and finance. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION.—An institution seeking designa-
tion as a National Maritime Enhancement Institute shall submit an applica-
tion under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall designate an in-
stitute under this section on the basis of the following criteria: 
‘‘(1) The demonstrated research and extension resources available to 
the applicant for carrying out the activities specified in subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) The ability of the applicant to provide leadership in making na-
tional and regional contributions to the solution of both long-range and 
immediate problems of the domestic maritime industry. 
‘‘(3) The existence of an established program of the applicant encom-
passing research and training directed to enhancing maritime indus-
tries. 
‘‘(4) The demonstrated ability of the applicant to assemble and 
evaluate pertinent information from national and international sources 
and to disseminate results of maritime industry research and edu-
cational programs through a continuing education program. 
‘‘(5) The qualification of the applicant as a nonprofit institution of 
higher learning. 
‘‘(e) FINANCIAL AWARDS.—The Secretary may make awards on an equal 
matching basis to an institute designated under subsection (a) from 
amounts appropriated. The aggregate annual amount of the Federal share 
of the awards by the Secretary may not exceed $500,000. 
‘‘(f) UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH FUNDS.—The Secretary 
may make a grant under section 5505 of title 49 to an institute designated 
under subsection (a) for maritime and maritime intermodal research under 
that section as if the institute were a university transportation center. In 
making a grant, the Secretary, through the Research and Innovative Tech-
nology Administration, shall advise the Maritime Administration on the 
availability of funds for the grants and consult with the Administration on 
making the grants.