---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 57110"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "57110"
heading: "Salvage recoveries for subrogated ownership of vessels and cargoes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/57110"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part F — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels"
  - "Chapter 571 — General Authority"
---

# §57110. Salvage recoveries for subrogated ownership of vessels and cargoes

- (a) **Salvage Agreements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation is authorized to enter into marine salvage [agreements](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) for the recoveries, sale, and disposal of sunken or damaged [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9), cargoes, or properties owned or insured by or on behalf of the Maritime Administration, the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Shipping Board, the U.S. Shipping Bureau, the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Maritime Commission, or the War Shipping Administration.
- (b) **Military Craft.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of the military department concerned prior to engaging in or authorizing any activity under [subsection (a)](#a) that will disturb sunken military craft, as such term is defined in section 1408(3) of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for [Fiscal Year](/usc/46/53201.md?p=6) 2005 (Public Law 108–375; [10 U.S.C. 113](/usc/10/113.md) note).
- (c) **Recoveries.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the net proceeds from salvage [agreements](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) entered into as authorized in [subsection (a)](#a) shall remain available until expended and be distributed as follows:
  - (1) Fifty percent shall be available to the [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) of the Maritime Administration for the payment or reimbursement of expenses incurred by or on behalf of [State maritime academies](/usc/46/51102.md?p=4) or the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) Merchant Marine [Academy](/usc/46/51102.md?p=1) for facility and training ship maintenance, repair, and modernization, and for the purchase of simulators and fuel.
  - (2) The remainder shall be distributed for maritime heritage preservation to the Department of the Interior for grants as authorized by [section 308703 of title 54](/usc/54/308703.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3509(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1977, § 57111; renumbered § 57110, Pub. L. 118–31, div. C, title XXXV, § 3514(j)(1)(A), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 811.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2023—Pub. L. 118–31 renumbered section 57111 of this title as this section.