---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51307"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51307"
heading: "Places of training"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51307"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 513 — United States Merchant Marine Academy"
---

# §51307. Places of training

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation may provide for the training of cadets at the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1)—
  - (1) on [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) owned, subsidized by, or contracted with the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government;
  - (2) on other documented [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), with the permission of the owner;
  - (3) in shipyards or plants and with industrial or educational organizations; and
  - (4) on any other [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) considered by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) to be necessary or appropriate or in the national interest.
- (b) **Sea Year Cadets on Certain Vessels.—**
  - (1) **Requirements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall require an operator of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) participating in the Maritime Security Program under [chapter 531](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch531.md) of this title, the Cable Security [Fleet](/usc/46/53101.md?p=3) under [chapter 532](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch532.md) of this title, or the [Tanker](/usc/46/2101.md?p=52) Security [Fleet](/usc/46/53101.md?p=3) under [chapter 534](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch534.md) of this title to—
    - (A) carry on each Maritime Security Program [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), Cable Security [Fleet](/usc/46/53101.md?p=3) [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), or [Tanker](/usc/46/2101.md?p=52) Security [Fleet](/usc/46/53101.md?p=3) [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) 2 [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) cadets, if available, on each voyage; and
    - (B) implement and adhere to policies, programs, criteria, and requirements established pursuant to [section 51322 of this title](/usc/46/51322.md).
  - (2) **Failure to implement or adhere to requirements.—** Failure to implement or adhere to the policies, programs, criteria, and requirements referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) may, as determined by the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2), constitute a violation of an [operating agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) entered into under chapter [531](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch531.md), [532](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch532.md), or [534](/usc/46/chstV/ptC/ch534.md) of this title and the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) may—
    - (A) require the operator to take corrective actions; or
    - (B) withhold payment due to the operator until the violation, as determined by the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2), has been remedied.
  - (3) **Withheld payments.—** Any payment withheld pursuant to [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B) may be paid, upon a determination by the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) that the operator is in compliance with the policies, programs, criteria, and requirements referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
- (c) **Military Sealift Command Vessels.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the Commander of the Military Sealift Command shall require an operator of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Navy’s Military Sealift Command to carry on each such [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) 2 [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) cadets, if available, on each voyage, if the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9)—
    - (A) is flagged in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10); and
    - (B) is rated at 10,000 gross tons or higher.
  - (2) **Waiver.—** The Commander of the Military Sealift Command may waive the requirement under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) at any time if the Commander determines that carrying a cadet from the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) would place an undue burden on the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) or the operator of the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9).
- (d) **Definition of Operator.—** In this section, the term “operator” includes a government operator and a non-government operator.
- (e) **Savings Clause.—** Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting—
  - (1) the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) to determine whether to place a [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) cadet on a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9);
  - (2) the authority of the [Coast Guard](/usc/46/2101.md?p=2) regarding a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) security plan approved under [section 70103](/usc/46/70103.md); or
  - (3) the discretion of the master of the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) to ensure the safety of all crew members.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1574; Pub. L. 109–241, title III, § 307, July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 528; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3525(a)(3), (b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 600, 601; Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, § 3512, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2311; Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXV, § 3506, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4405; Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXV, § 3517(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3073.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51307 | 46 App.:1295b(f). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1303(f), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2002. |

In paragraph (2), the words “with the permission of the owner” are substituted for “if the owner . . . cooperates in such use” for clarity.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–263 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall require an operator of a vessel participating in the Maritime Security Program under chapter 531 of this title, the Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of this title, or the Tanker Security Fleet under chapter 534 of this title to carry on each Maritime Security Program vessel, Cable Security Fleet vessel, or Tanker Security Fleet vessel 2 United States Merchant Marine Academy cadets, if available, on each voyage.”

2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall require an operator of a vessel participating in the Maritime Security Program under chapter 531 of this title to carry on each Maritime Security Program vessel 2 United States Merchant Marine Academy cadets, if available, on each voyage.”

2018—Pub. L. 115–232, § 3512(1), (3), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsecs. (b) to (e).

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–232, § 3512(2), substituted “owned, subsidized by, or contracted with” for “owned or subsidized by”.

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–241, § 307. See 2006 Amendment note below.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(a)(3), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–241, § 307, into this section by adding par. (4). See 2006 Amendment note below and section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304, set out as a Legislative Purpose and Construction note preceding section 101 of this title.

2006—Pub. L. 109–241, § 307, which directed the amendment of section 1295b(f) of the former Appendix to this title from which this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3525(b). See 2008 Amendment note for par. (4) and Historical and Revision notes above.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXV, § 3517(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3074, provided that: “Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 51307, as amended by paragraph (1), shall apply with respect to any failure to implement or adhere to the policies, programs, criteria, and requirements referred to in paragraph (1)(B) of such subsection that occurs on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022].”