PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006
120 STAT. 1665
reconditioning of a vessel by a private shipbuilder under this chapter are subject to the provisions of title V of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, applicable to a contract with a private shipbuilder for the construction of a vessel under title V of that Act. ‘‘§ 57503. Competitive bidding ‘‘(a) ADVERTISEMENT AND BIDDING.—The Secretary of Transportation may make a contract with a private shipbuilder for the construction of a new vessel, or for the reconstruction or reconditioning of an existing vessel, only after due advertisement and upon sealed competitive bids. ‘‘(b) OPENING OF BIDS.—Bids required under this section shall be opened at the time and place stated in the advertisement for bids. All interested persons, including representatives of the press, shall be permitted to attend. The results of the bidding shall be publicly announced. ‘‘§ 57504. Charter or sale of vessels acquired by Department of Transportation ‘‘Vessels transferred to or otherwise acquired by the Department of Transportation in any manner may be chartered or sold by the Secretary of Transportation as provided in this chapter. ‘‘§ 57505. Employment of vessels on foreign trade routes ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall arrange for the employment of the Department of Transportation’s vessels in steamship lines on such trade routes, exclusively serving the foreign trade of the United States, as the Secretary determines are essential for the development and maintenance of the commerce of the United States and the national defense. However, the Secretary shall first determine that those routes are not being adequately served by existing steamship lines privately owned and operated by citizens of the United States and documented under the laws of the United States. ‘‘(b) POLICY TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE OPERATION.—The Secretary shall have a policy of encouraging private operation of each essential steamship line now owned by the United States Government by— ‘‘(1) selling the line to a citizen of the United States; or ‘‘(2) demising the Secretary’s vessels on bareboat charter to citizens of the United States who agree to maintain the line in the manner provided in this chapter. ‘‘§ 57506. Minimum selling price of vessels ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A vessel constructed under this subtitle or the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, may not be sold by the Secretary of Transportation for less than the price specified in this section. ‘‘(b) OPERATION IN FOREIGN TRADE.—If the vessel is to be operated in foreign trade, the minimum price is the estimated foreign construction cost (exclusive of national defense features) determined as of the date the construction contract is executed, less depreciation under subsection (d). ‘‘(c) OPERATION IN DOMESTIC TRADE.—If the vessel is to be operated in domestic trade, the minimum price is the cost of construction in the United States (exclusive of national defense features), less depreciation under subsection (d).
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