---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51104"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51104"
heading: "General authority of Secretary of the Navy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51104"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 511 — General"
---

# §51104. General authority of Secretary of the Navy


The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of the Navy, in cooperation with the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) and the head of each [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4), shall ensure that—

- (1) the training of future [merchant marine officers](/usc/46/51102.md?p=3) at the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) and at [State maritime academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) includes programs for naval science training in the operation of merchant [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) as a naval and military auxiliary; and
- (2) naval officer training programs for future officers, insofar as possible, are maintained at designated maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) consistent with Navy standards and needs.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1570.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51104 | 46 App.:1126–1(a) (last sentence), (b). | Pub. L. 94–361, title VI, § 603(a) (last sentence), (b), July 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 929; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(76), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 160. |
|  | 46 App.:1295 (last sentence cl. (2)). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1301 (last sentence cl. (2)), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1997; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(142)(B), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 166. |