105 STAT. 2234 PUBLIC LAW 102-241—DEC. 19, 1991 SEC. 57. NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET. Section 11 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (50 App. U.S.C. 1744) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(d) READY RESERVE FORCE MANAGEMENT.— "(1) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. — To ensure the readiness of vessels in the Ready Reserve Force component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, the Secretary of Transportation shall, at a minimum— "(A) maintain all of the vessels in a manner that will enable each vessel to be activated within a period specified in plans for mobilization of the vessels; "(B) activate and conduct sea trials on each vessel at least once every twenty-four months; "(C) maintain in an enhanced activation status those vessels that are scheduled to be activated within 5 days; "(D) locate those vessels that are scheduled to be activated within 5 days near embarkation ports specified for those vessels; and "(E) notwithstanding section 2109 of title 46, United States Code, have each vessel inspected by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to determine if the vessel meets the safety standards that would apply under part B of subtitle II of that title if the vessel were not a public vessel. "(2) VESSEL MANAGERS. — "(A) ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTRACT.— A person, including a shipyard, is eligible for a contract for the management of a vessel in the Ready Reserve Force if the Secretary determines, at a minimum, that the person has— "(i) experience in the operation of commercial-type vessels or public vessels owned by the United States Government; and "(ii) the management capability necessary to operate, maintain, and activate the vessel at a reasonable price. " (B) CONTRACT REQUIREMENT, —The Secretary of Transportation shall include in each contract for the management of a vessel in the Ready Reserve Force a requirement that each seaman who performs services on
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