---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 53108"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "53108"
heading: "Regulatory relief"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/53108"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part C — Financial Assistance Programs"
  - "Chapter 531 — Maritime Security Fleet"
---

# §53108. Regulatory relief

- (a) **Operation in Foreign Commerce.—** A [contractor](/usc/46/53101.md?p=2) for a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) included in an [operating agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) under this chapter may operate the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the [foreign commerce](/usc/46/53101.md?p=4) of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) without restriction.
- (b) **Other Restrictions.—** The restrictions of [section 55305(a) of this title](/usc/46/55305.md?p=a) concerning the building, rebuilding, or documentation of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in a foreign country shall not apply to a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) for any day the operator of that [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) is receiving payments for operation of that [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) under an [operating agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) under this chapter.
- (c) **Telecommunications Equipment.—** The telecommunications and other electronic equipment on an existing [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) that is redocumented under the laws of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) for operation under an [operating agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) under this chapter shall be deemed to satisfy all Federal Communications Commission equipment certification requirements, if—
  - (1) such equipment complies with all applicable international [agreements](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) and associated guidelines as determined by the country in which the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) was documented immediately before becoming documented under the laws of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10);
  - (2) that country has not been identified by the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) as inadequately enforcing international regulations as to that [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9); and
  - (3) at the end of its useful life, such equipment will be replaced with equipment that meets Federal Communications Commission equipment certification standards.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXV, § 3531(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1816; amended Pub. L. 109–304, § 13(a)(7), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1701.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–304 substituted “section 55305(a) of this title” for “section 901(b)(1) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 1241(b)(1))”.