---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51304"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51304"
heading: "Additional appointments from particular areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51304"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 513 — United States Merchant Marine Academy"
---

# §51304. Additional appointments from particular areas

- (a) **Other Countries in Western Hemisphere.—** The President may appoint individuals from countries in the Western Hemisphere other than the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) to receive instruction at the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1). Not more than 12 individuals may receive instruction under this subsection at the same time, and not more than 2 individuals from the same country may receive instruction under this subsection at the same time.
- (b) **Other Countries Generally.—**
  - (1) **Appointment.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation, with the approval of the Secretary of State, may appoint individuals from countries other than the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) to receive instruction at the [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1). Not more than 30 individuals may receive instruction under this subsection at the same time.
  - (2) **Reimbursement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall ensure that the country from which an individual comes under this subsection will reimburse the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) for the cost (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8)) of the instruction and allowances received by the individual.
- (c) **Panama.—**
  - (1) **Appointment.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation, with the approval of the Secretary of State, may appoint individuals from Panama to receive instruction at the [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1). Individuals appointed under this subsection are in addition to those appointed under any other provision of this chapter.
  - (2) **Reimbursement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall be reimbursed for the cost (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8)) of the instruction and allowances received by an individual appointed under this subsection.
- (d) **Allowances and Regulations.—** Individuals receiving instruction under this section are entitled to the same allowances and are subject to the same regulations on admission, attendance, discipline, resignation, discharge, dismissal, and graduation, as cadets at the [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) appointed from the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1572.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51304(a) | 46 App.:1295b(b) (5)(A), (B). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1303(b)(5)–(7), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1999; Pub. L. 99–368, § 5, Aug. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 101–595, title VII, § 708(3), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2995. |
| 51304(b) | 46 App.:1295b(b) (6)(A)–(C). |  |
| 51304(c) | 46 App.:1295b(b) (7)(A), (B). |  |
| 51304(d) | 46 App.:1295b(b) (5)(C), (6)(D), (7)(C). |  |

The word “appoint” is substituted for “designate” and “permit” for consistency in the chapter.