An act to authorize the documentation of certain vessels as vessels of the United States, and for other purposes.
PL 96-387 (S.1442), enacted 10/07/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-387—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1545 
Public Law 96-387 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the documentation of certain vessels as vessels of the United States, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That, notwithstand-
ing the provisions of title 46 of the United States Code, particularly 
but not limited to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, as 
amended (46 U.S.C. 883), or any other provision of law, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Co£ist Guard is operating, shall cause 
the vessels Sara (vessel numbered 530082), Aurelia Four, Alice (vessel 
numbered 289731), Albatross (vessel numbered 299537), Hillbilly I, 
and Kailua (registration numbered AK-7716-B) to be documented as 
vessels of the United States, with the privileges of engaging in 
coastwise trade so long as each such vessel being so documented is 
owned by a citizen of the United States. 
SEC. 2. The vessel Sara which was constructed in a country other 
than the United States, is, pursuant to section 1, granted the 
privilege of engaging in coastwise trade only so long as the vessel is 
owned by a citizen of the United States and is operated for a nonprofit 
purpose. 
SEC. 3. Section 502 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, is amended 
by adding at the end of subsection (g) thereof two new subsections to 
read as follows: 
"(h) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to construct, pur-
chase, lease, acquire, store, maintain, sell, or otherwise dispose of 
national defense features intended for installation on vessels. The 
Secretary of Commerce is authorized to install or remove such 
national defense features on any vessel (1) which is in the National 
Defense Reserve Fleet as defined by section 11(a) of the Merchant 
Ship Sales Act of 1946, (2) which is requisitioned, purchased, or 
chartered under section 902 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, (3) 
which serves as security for the guarantee of an obligation by the 
Secretary of Commerce under title XI of this Act, or (4) which is the 
subject of an agreement between the owner of such vessel and the 
Secretary of Commerce to install or remove such national defense 
features. Title to such national defense features which the Secretary 
of Commerce determines are not to be permanently incorporated in a 
vessel shall not be affected by such installation or removal unless 
otherwise transferred in accordance with the provisions of this title 
V. 
"(i) The Secretary of Commerce shall submit the plans and specifi-
cations for such national defense features and the proposals for their 
acquisition, storage, utilization, or disposition to the Navy Depart-
ment for examination thereof and suggestion for such changes 
therein as may be deemed necessary or proper in order that such 
features shall be suitable for the use of the United States Govern-
ment in time of war or national emergency. If the Secretary of the 
Navy approves such plans, specifications, or proposals as submitted. 
Oct. 7, 1980 
[S. 1442] 
Vessels, 
coastwise trade 
documentation. 
Merchant 
Marine Act, 
1936, 
amendment. 
46 u s e 1152. 
National defense 
features. 
50 u s e app. 
1744. 
46 u s e 1242. 
46 u s e 1271. 
46 u s e 1151. 
Plans, 
specifications, 
and proposals. 
eertification of 
approval. 
94 STAT. 1546 
PUBLIC LAW 96-387—OCT. 7, 1980 
46 u s e 1119. 
Coastwise coal 
transport, 
priority loading. 
46 u s e 1121-1. 
Report to 
Congress. 
Vessel, coastwise 
trade documen-
tation. 
"Citizen of the 
United States." 
or as modified in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, he 
shall certify such approval to the Secretary of Commerce.". 
SEC. 4. Section 209(b) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, is amended 
by (a) deleting from clause (2) the words "and cost of national defense 
features"; (h) inserting after clause (2) the following new clause: "(3) 
cost of national defense features;"; and, (c) renumbering the remain-
ing clauses accordingly. 
SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any vessel 
engaged in the coastwise transportation of coal produced in the 
United States, from a port in the United States to another port in the 
United States, shall until June 30, 1987, have the priority to load at 
any such ports ahead of any waiting vessels engaged in the export 
trade of coal produced in the United States: Provided, That, the 
Secretary of Commerce may, if he determines that it is in the 
national interest, eliminate priority loading, as provided herein, at 
any such port or ports, and to report such action to the Congress 
within 30 days. 
SEC. 6. Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 
1920, as amended (46 U.S.C. 883), or any other provision of law to the 
contrary, the vessel known as the Scuba King, official numbered 
532376, owned by Bernard Despins, shall be entitled to be docu-
mented to engage in the fisheries and the coastwise trade upon 
compliance with the usual requirements, so long as such vessel is, 
from the date of enactment of this section, continuously owned by a 
citizen of the United States. For the purposes of this section, the term 
"citizen of the United States" includes corporations, partnerships, 
and associations, but only those which are citizens of the United 
States within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 
U.S.C. 802). 
Approved October 7, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1221 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-477 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 125 (1979): Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 126 (1980): Aug. 26, considered and passed House, amended. 
Sept. 19, Senate concurred in House amendments with amend-
ments. 
Sept. 22, House agreed to Senate amendments.