---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 53203"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "53203"
heading: "Award of operating agreements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/53203"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part C — Financial Assistance Programs"
  - "Chapter 532 — Cable Security Fleet"
---

# §53203. Award of operating agreements

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall require, as a condition of including any [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the [Cable Fleet](/usc/46/53201.md?p=3), that the [person](/usc/46/53101.md?p=6) that is the owner or operator of the [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) for purposes of [section 53202(c)](/usc/46/53202.md?p=c) enter into an [Operating Agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) with the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) under this section.
- (b) **Procedure for Applications.—**
  - (1) **Acceptance of applications.—** Beginning no later than 60 days after the effective date of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall accept applications for enrollment of [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the [Cable Fleet](/usc/46/53201.md?p=3).
  - (2) **Action on applications.—** Within 120 days after receipt of an application for enrollment of a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) in the [Cable Fleet](/usc/46/53201.md?p=3), the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall approve the application in conjunction with the [Operating Agency](/usc/46/53201.md?p=7), and shall enter into an [Operating Agreement](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) with the applicant, or provide in writing the reason for denial of that application.
- (c) **Priority for Awarding Agreements.—** Subject to the availability of appropriations, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) shall enter into [Operating Agreements](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) with those [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) determined by the [Operating Agency](/usc/46/53201.md?p=7), in its sole discretion, to best meet the national security requirements of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10). After [consideration](/usc/46/2101.md?p=5) of national security requirements, priority shall be given to an applicant that is a [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) citizen under [section 50501 of this title](/usc/46/50501.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3521(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1992.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), probably means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–92, which enacted this chapter and was approved Dec. 20, 2019.