---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 57533"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "57533"
heading: "Vessel chartering authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/57533"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part F — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels"
  - "Chapter 575 — Construction, Charter, and Sale of Vessels"
  - "Subchapter III — Miscellaneous"
---

# §57533. Vessel chartering authority


The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation may enter into contracts or other [agreements](/usc/46/53201.md?p=8) on behalf of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10) to purchase, charter, operate, or otherwise acquire the use of any [vessels](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) documented under [chapter 121](/usc/46/chstII/ptH/ch121.md) of this title and any other related real or personal property. The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) is authorized to use this authority as the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) deems appropriate.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3511(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 593.)