---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 56301"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "56301"
heading: "General authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/56301"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part E — Control of Merchant Marine Capabilities"
  - "Chapter 563 — Emergency Acquisition of Vessels"
---

# §56301. General authority


During a national emergency declared by Presidential proclamation, or a period for which the President has proclaimed that the security of the national defense makes it advisable, the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation may requisition or purchase, or requisition or charter the use of, a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) owned by citizens of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10), a documented [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), or a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) under [construction](/usc/46/53701.md?p=3) in the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1654.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 56301 | 46 App.:1242(a) (1st, 2d sentences). | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title IX, § 902(a) (1st, 2d sentences), 49 Stat. 2015; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(131), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 165; Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 104(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4750. |

The words “or other watercraft” are omitted because of the definition of “vessel” in chapter 1 of the revised title. The words “The termination of any emergency so declared shall be announced by a further proclamation by the President” are omitted as superseded by the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).