---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51503"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51503"
heading: "Regional maritime academies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51503"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 515 — State Maritime Academy Support Program"
---

# §51503. Regional maritime academies


The Governors of the States cooperating to sponsor a regional maritime [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) shall designate in writing one of those States to conduct the affairs of that [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1). A regional maritime [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) is eligible for assistance from the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government on the same basis as a [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) sponsored by a single State.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1577.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51503 | 46 App.:1295c(b). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1304(b), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2003. |

The reference to territories is omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of “State” in chapter 1 of the revised title.