---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 50109"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "50109"
heading: "Miscellaneous studies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/50109"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part A — General"
  - "Chapter 501 — Policy, Studies, and Reports"
---

# §50109. Miscellaneous studies

- (a) **Foreign Subsidies.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall investigate, 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](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) 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 commerce](/usc/46/53101.md?p=4) to further the policy in [section 50101 of this title](/usc/46/50101.md), and any appropriate legislation in this regard.
- (c) **Aid for Cotton, Coal, Lumber, and Cement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall investigate, determine, and keep current records of the advisability of enactment of suitable legislation authorizing the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), in an economic or commercial emergency, to aid farmers and producers of cotton, coal, lumber, and cement in any section of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) in the transportation and landing of their products in any foreign port, which products can be carried in dry-[cargo](/usc/46/53901.md?p=2) [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) by reducing rates, by supplying additional tonnage to any American operator, or by operation of [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) directly by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), until the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) considers the special rate reduction and operation unnecessary for the benefit of those farmers and producers.
- (d) **Intercoastal and Inland Water Transportation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) 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](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall make studies and reports to Congress on—
  - (1) the scrapping or removal from service of old or obsolete merchant tonnage owned by the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government or in use in the merchant marine; and
  - (2) tramp shipping service and the advisability of citizens of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) participating in that service with [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) under [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) registry.
- (f) **Mortgage Loans.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall investigate the legal status of [mortgage](/usc/46/53701.md?p=8) loans on [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) property, with a view to the means of improving the security of those loans and of encouraging investment in American shipping.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1559.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 50109(a) | 46 App.:1121(f). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 211(f), (h), (i), (j) (words after 2d semicolon), 49 Stat. 1989; Pub. L. 91–469, §§ 4(2), 35(a), Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1018, 1035; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(67), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159. |
| 50109(b) | 46 App.:1121(h). |  |
| 50109(c) | 46 App.:1121(i). |  |
| 50109(d) | 46 App.:1121(j) (words after 2d semicolon). |  |
| 50109(e) | 46 App.:1123. | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 213, 49 Stat. 1991; Pub. L. 87–877, § 2(c), (d), Oct. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 1201; Pub. L. 94–273, § 27, Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(71), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXVI, § 3602, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2075. |
| 50109(f) | 46 App.:811 (4th sentence). | Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 451, § 12 (4th sentence), 39 Stat. 732; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 12, eff. June 10, 1933; June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title II, § 204, title IX, § 904, 49 Stat. 1987, 2016; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(27), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 155. |