---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2578"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2578"
heading: "Vessels: transfer between departments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2578"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 153 — Exchange of Material and Disposal of Obsolete, Surplus, or Unclaimed Property"
---

# §2578. Vessels: transfer between departments


A vessel under the jurisdiction of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may be transferred or otherwise made available without reimbursement to another [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Homeland Security, and a vessel under the jurisdiction of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Homeland Security may be transferred or otherwise made available without reimbursement to a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6). Any such transfer may be made only upon the request of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned or the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Homeland Security, as the case may be, and with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) having jurisdiction of the vessel.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–370, § 1(k)(1), July 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 848; amended Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Section is based on Pub. L. 99–190, § 101(b) [title VIII, § 8012], Dec. 19, 1985, 99 Stat. 1185, 1204.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.