---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51504"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51504"
heading: "Use of training vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51504"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 515 — State Maritime Academy Support Program"
---

# §51504. Use of training vessels

- (a) **Applications To Use Vessels.—** The Governor of a State sponsoring a [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) (or the Governor of the State designated to conduct the affairs of a regional maritime [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1)) may apply in writing to the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation to obtain the use of a training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) for the [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1). A [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) provided under this section remains the property of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Government.
- (b) **General Authority.—** Subject to [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) may provide to a [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4), for use as a training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), a suitable [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) under the control of the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) or made available to the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) under [subsection (e)](#e). If a suitable [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) is not available, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) may build and provide a suitable [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9).
- (c) **Approval Requirements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) may provide a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) under this section only if—
  - (1) an application has been made under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) the [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) satisfies [section 51506(a) of this title](/usc/46/51506.md?p=a); and
  - (3) a suitable port will be available for the safe mooring of the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) while the [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) is using the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9).
- (d) **Preparation and Maintenance.—** A [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) provided under this section shall be—
  - (1) repaired, reconditioned, and equipped (with all apparel, charts, books, and instruments of navigation) as necessary for use as a training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9); and
  - (2) maintained in good repair by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8).
- (e) **Agency Vessels.—** An agency may provide to the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), for use by a [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4), a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) (including equipment) that—
  - (1) is suitable for training purposes; and
  - (2) can be provided without detriment to the service to which the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) is assigned.
- (f) **Fuel Costs.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Subject to the availability of appropriations, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall pay to each [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) the costs of fuel used by a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) provided under this section while used for training.
  - (2) **Maximum amounts.—** The amount of the payment to a [State maritime academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) may not exceed—
    - (A) $100,000 for [fiscal year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) 2006;
    - (B) $200,000 for [fiscal year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) 2007; and
    - (C) $300,000 for [fiscal year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) 2008 and each [fiscal year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) thereafter.
- (g) **Vessel Sharing.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for [Fiscal Year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), acting through the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2), shall upon consultation with the maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1), and to the extent feasible with the consent of the maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1), implement a program of training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) sharing, requiring maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) to share training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9)[^1] provided by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) among maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1), as necessary to ensure that training needs of each [academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) are met.
  - (2) **Program of vessel sharing.—** For purposes of this subsection, a program of [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) sharing shall include—
    - (A) ways to maximize the available underway training available in the [fleet](/usc/46/53101.md?p=3) of training [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9);
    - (B) coordinating the dates and duration of training cruises with the academic calendars of maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1);
    - (C) coordinating academic programs designed to be implemented aboard training [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) among maritime [academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1); and
    - (D) identifying ways to minimize costs.
  - (3) **Additional funding.—** Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) may provide additional funding to [State maritime academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) during periods of limited training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) capacity, for costs associated with training [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) sharing.
  - (4) **Evaluation.—** Not later than 30 days after the beginning of each [fiscal year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), acting through the Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2), shall evaluate the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) sharing program under this subsection to determine the optimal utilization of State maritime training [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), and modify the program as necessary to improve utilization.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “vessels”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1577; Pub. L. 109–163, div. C, title XXXV, § 3502(b), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3548; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3523(a)(2), (b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 599, 600; Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, § 3505, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2308.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51504(a) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A)(ii), (v). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XIII, § 1304(c)(1), (2), as added Pub. L. 96–453, § 2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2003. |
| 51504(b) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A) (1st sentence words before “meeting the requirements”). |  |
| 51504(c)(1) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A)(ii). |  |
| 51504(c)(2) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A) (1st sentence words beginning with “meeting the requirements”). |  |
| 51504(c)(3) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A)(iii). |  |
| 51504(d)(1) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A)(i). |  |
| 51504(d)(2) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (A)(iv). |  |
| 51504(e) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(1) (B). |  |
| 51504(f) | 46 App.:1295c(c)(2). |  |
| 51504(g) | 46 App.:1295c note. | Pub. L. 101–115, § 4, Oct. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 692; Pub. L. 101–595, title VII, § 705, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2994. |

In subsection (a), the reference to territories is omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of “State” in chapter 1 of the revised title.

In subsection (e), before paragraph (1), the word “agency” is substituted for “department or agency of the United States” because of the definition of “agency” in chapter 1 of the revised title.

In subsection (g), the 1st–3d sentences of section 4 of Public Law 101–115 are omitted as obsolete.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, referred to in subsec. (g)(1), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 115–232, which was approved Aug. 13, 2018.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–232 amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (g) related to removing vessels from service and vessel sharing.

2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–163, § 3502(b). See 2006 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(a)(2), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–163, § 3502(b), by amending heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary may pay to a State maritime academy the costs of fuel used by a vessel provided under this section while used for training.” 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. 109–163, § 3502(b), which directed the amendment of section 1295c(c)(2) of the former Appendix to this title from which subsec. (f) of this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3523(b). See 2008 Amendment note for subsec. (f) and Historical and Revision notes above.