---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51501"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51501"
heading: "General support program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51501"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 515 — State Maritime Academy Support Program"
---

# §51501. General support program

- (a) **Assistance to State Maritime Academies.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall cooperate with and assist [State maritime academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) in providing instruction to individuals to prepare them for service in the merchant marine of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).
- (b) **Course Development.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall provide to each [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) guidance and assistance in developing courses on the operation and maintenance of [new vessels](/usc/46/53301.md?p=a-2), on equipment, and on innovations being introduced to the merchant marine of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).
- (c) **American Maritime Centers of Excellence.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall designate each [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) as an American Maritime Center of Excellence.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1577; Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3505, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1970.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51501(a) | 46 App.:1295c(a). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1304(a), (d)(2), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2003, 2004. |
| 51501(b) | 46 App.:1295c(d)(2). |  |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 added subsec. (c).