120 STAT. 1584
PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006 ‘‘CHAPTER 519—MERCHANT MARINE AWARDS
‘‘Sec. ‘‘51901. ‘‘51902. ‘‘51903. ‘‘51904. ‘‘51905. ‘‘51906. ‘‘51907. ‘‘51908.
Awards for individual acts or service. Gallant Ship Award. Multiple awards. Presentation to representatives. Flags and grave markers. Special certificates for civilian service to armed forces. Manufacture and sale of awards and replacements. Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards.
‘‘§ 51901. Awards for individual acts or service ‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may award decorations and medals of appropriate design (including ribbons, ribbon bars, emblems, rosettes, miniature facsimiles, plaques, citations, or other suitable devices or insignia) for individual acts or service in the merchant marine of the United States. The design may be similar to the design of a decoration or medal authorized for members of the armed forces for similar acts or service. ‘‘(b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may award— ‘‘(1) a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to an individual for outstanding acts, conduct, or valor beyond the line of duty; ‘‘(2) a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal to an individual for meritorious acts, conduct, or valor in the line of duty, but not of the outstanding character that would warrant the award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal; ‘‘(3) a decoration or medal to an individual for service during a war, national emergency proclaimed by the President or Congress, or operations by the armed forces outside the continental United States under conditions of danger to life and property; and ‘‘(4) a decoration or medal to an individual for other acts or service of conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and extraordinary heroism under conditions of danger to life and property that would warrant a similar decoration or medal for a member of the armed forces. ‘‘§ 51902. Gallant Ship Award ‘‘(a) AWARDS TO VESSELS.—The Secretary of Transportation may award a Gallant Ship Award and a citation to a vessel (including a foreign vessel) participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other emergency to save life or property at sea. The Secretary may award a plaque to the vessel, and a replica of the plaque may be preserved as a permanent historical record. ‘‘(b) AWARDS TO CREWS.—The Secretary of Transportation may award an appropriate citation ribbon bar to the master and each individual serving, at the time of the action, on a vessel issued an award under subsection (a). ‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the Secretary of State before awarding an award or citation to a foreign vessel or its crew under this section.
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